Assignment:
From 1997 through 2004, the value of US exports to Mexico was as shown below. Data are in billions of dollars.
Year: 1997 1998 1999 2000
Exports: $71.4 $78.8 $86.9 $111.3
Year: 2001 2002 2003 2004
Exports: $101.3 $97.5 $97.4 $110.8
a. Fit a linear trend equation to the time series. Using this equation, determine the trend estimate for 2012.
b. Fit a quadratic equation to the time series, then use the equation to determine the trend estimate for 2012.
c. Construct a graph of the time series along with the equations fitted in parts (a) and (b). Which equation appears to better fit the data?
Provide complete and step by step solution for the question and show calculations and use formulas.