The Following Table Contains United States Population Data for the Years

Essay

The following table contains United States population data for the years 1981-1990, as well as estimates based on the 1990 census. $$\begin{array}{l}\begin{array} { | c | c | } \hline \text { Year } & \begin{array} { c } \text { U.S. Population } \\\text { (millions) }\end{array} \\\hline 1981 & 229.5 \\\hline 1982 & 231.6 \\\hline 1983 & 233.8 \\\hline 1984 & 235.8 \\\hline 1985 & 237.9 \\\hline 1986 & 240.1 \\\hline 1987 & 242.3 \\\hline 1988 & 244.4 \\\hline 1989 & 246.8 \\\hline 1990 & 249.5 \\\hline\end{array}&\begin{array} { | c | c | } \hline \text { Year } & \begin{array} { c } \text { U.S. Population } \\\text { (millions) }\end{array} \\\hline 1991 & 252.2 \\\hline 1992 & 255.0 \\\hline 1993 & 257.8 \\\hline 1994 & 260.3 \\\hline 1995 & 262.8 \\\hline 1996 & 265.2 \\\hline 1997 & 267.8 \\\hline 1998 & 270.2 \\\hline 1999 & 272.7 \\\hline 2000 & 275.1 \\\hline\end{array}\end{array}$$
Source: U.S. Census Bureau website
(a) Make a scatter plot for the data and use your scatter plot to determine a mathematical model of the U.S. population.(b) Use your model to predict the U.S. population in 2003.