The accompanying data were read from graphs that appeared in the article "Bush Timber Proposal Runs Counter to the Record" (San Luis Obispo Tribune,September 22, 2002). The variables shown are the number of acres burned in forest fires in the western United States and timber sales.
a. Is there a correlation between timber sales and acres burned in forest fires? Compute and interpret the value of the correlation coefficient.
b. The article concludes that "heavier logging led to large forest fires." Do you think this conclusion is justified based on the given data? Explain.