Mat 117
Lab for 2.6

The chart below, taken from the Arizona Republic, 9-24-96, tracks the population growth of the city of Gilbert, Arizona

 
 

Year 1960 1970 1980 1990 1995 1996
Population 2,000 3,000 5,500 29,000 59,000 68,000
 

 

The city of Gilbert is interested in an estimate of the population in the year 2000, in order to plan for roads, schools, sewer systems etc. Can we do that?

 

  1. Make a scatter plot of the data, letting 1960=0.
  2. Think about your window size. What should be your min., and max. for X and Y?
 

 

 

  1. What kind of curve does it look close to? Sketch it in the space below
 

 

 

 

 

  1. Use STAT-CALC, and choose a regression, and hit enter. The equation for the best fit curve is displayed.

    2.  

  2. Hit y=. Now use VARS-5(Statistics)-EQ-7(ReGEQ) and hit enter. Now that equation is ready to graph.
 
  1. Now find an estimate for the population in the year 2000. How would you do this?