Perform a multiple regression analysis using the file warecost.xls. This is a mail-order catalog business selling personal computer supplies, software, and hardware. Management wants to study the factors that affect warehouse distribution costs. Currently, a small handling fee is added to each order, regardless of the amount of the order. Data collected over the past 24 months indicate the warehouse distribution costs (in thousands of dollars), the sales (in thousands of dollars), and the number of orders received.

a. State the multiple regression equation.

b. Interpret the meaning of the slopes, b₁ and b_2, in this problem.

d. Predict the mean monthly warehouse distribution cost when sales are $400,000 and the number of orders is 4,500.

Cost 52.95 71.66 85.58 63.69 72.81 68.44 52.46 70.77 82.03 74.39 70.84 54.08 62.98 72.3 58.99 79.38 94.44 59.74 90.5 93.24 69.33 53.71 89.18 66.8 Sales 386 446 512 401 457 458 301 484 517 503 535 353 372 328 408 491 527 444 623 596 463 389 547 415 Orders 4015 3806 5309 4262 4296 4097 3213 4809 5237 4732 4413 2921 3977 4428 3964 4582 5582 3450 5079 5735 4269 3708 5387 4161