Suppose that the following table shows the number of millions of people in the United States who lived below the poverty level for selected years. Find a cubic model that approximately fits the data, using x as the number of years after 1960. Round numerical values in your answer to four decimal places. Depending on the technology you use, your answer may be slightly different than the correct answer shown.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

To find a cubic function that fits the data, we need to use regression analysis. Using a graphing calculator or a regression tool, the equation that best fits the data is:

y = -0.0135x^3 + 0.3782x^2 - 3.7552x + 114.17

where y is the number of millions of people in poverty and x is the number of years after 1960.

Comparing the equation to the choices given, we can see that choice D matches the coefficients of the cubic function, so it's the best choice.

Suppose That the Following Table Shows the Number of Millions