<PRE><B>Question 45080</B>
Find a linear model that represents the data. (Hint: Please use the average of the slope of the first two points and the last two points). Let t represent the year, with t = 0 corresponding to 1997. 
Year Sales
1997 64.9
1998 68.5
1999 70.2
2000 76.0
2001 81.9
2002 86.4
2003 85.2
2004 90.1

Points: (1997,64.9) and (2004,90.1)
slope = (90.1-64.9)/(7)= 25.2/7=18/5

#=mt+b
90.1=(18/5)(2004)+b
b=90.1-7214.4=-7124.3

EQUATION:
#=(3.6)t-7124.3

Cheers,
Stan H.</PRE>