The table gives the population of the world in the 20th century.
(a) Estimate the rate of population growth in 1920 and in 1980 by averaging the slopes of two secant lines.
(b) Use a graphing calculator or computer to find a cubic function (a third-degree polynomial) that models the data. (See Section 1.2)
(c) Use your model in part (b) to find a model for the rate of population growth in the 20th century.
(d) Use part (c) to estimate the rates of growth in 1920 and 1980. Compare with your estimates in part (a).
(e) Estimate the rate of growth in 1985.

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Population (in millions) Population (in millions) Year Year 1650 3040 1900 1960 1750 1970 3710 1910 1920 1860 1980 4450 1930 2070 1990 5280 1940 2300 2000 6080 2560 1950