According to the U.S. Department of Education, the following are the numbers, in millions, of college...

 

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According to the U.S. Department of Education, the following are the numbers, in millions, of college degrees awarded in various years since 1970. Year 1970 1980 1985 1990 1995 1998 2000 2001 2002 2003 College graduates 1.271 1.731 1.828 1.940 2.218 2.298 2.385 2.416 2.494 2.621 (a) Determine the best linear function and an exponential function to model the number of college graduates G as a function of t, the number of years since 1970. (Round all numerical values to three decimal places.) linear G-O exponential (b) Use each function to predict the number of college graduates in millions in 2013. (Round your answer to three decimal places.) x million graduates x million graduates linear exponential (c) Which prediction seems more reasonable? Which prediction seems less reasonable? The exponential function's prediction seems more reasonable, and the linear less reasonable. The linear function's prediction seems more reasonable, and the exponential less reasonable. (d) Use each model to predict when there will be 4 million college graduates. (Round your answer to the nearest integer.) linear exponential (e) What is the doubling time in years for the exponential model? (Round your answer to two decimal places.) 1x yr According to the U.S. Department of Education, the following are the numbers, in millions, of college degrees awarded in various years since 1970. Year 1970 1980 1985 1990 1995 1998 2000 2001 2002 2003 College graduates 1.271 1.731 1.828 1.940 2.218 2.298 2.385 2.416 2.494 2.621 (a) Determine the best linear function and an exponential function to model the number of college graduates G as a function of t, the number of years since 1970. (Round all numerical values to three decimal places.) linear G-O exponential (b) Use each function to predict the number of college graduates in millions in 2013. (Round your answer to three decimal places.) x million graduates x million graduates linear exponential (c) Which prediction seems more reasonable? Which prediction seems less reasonable? The exponential function's prediction seems more reasonable, and the linear less reasonable. The linear function's prediction seems more reasonable, and the exponential less reasonable. (d) Use each model to predict when there will be 4 million college graduates. (Round your answer to the nearest integer.) linear exponential (e) What is the doubling time in years for the exponential model? (Round your answer to two decimal places.) 1x yr