a$)$ Using exponential smoothing and given $,$ the forecast for the month of July $=41$ million checks received $($round your response to one decimal place$).$

b$)$ If the check$-$processing center received $45$ million checks in the month of July, then using exponential smoothing and given $,$ the forecast for the month of August $=$ million checks received $($round your response to one decimal place$).$