Cubic functions can be used to model real world data.  The data below will be modeled with a cubic function.

The Problem

The data in the following table list natural gas consumption ( in quadrillion BTU) in the United States. Estimate the natural gas consumption in 1982.

Natural Gas Consumption
Year
1960
1970
1980
1990
1997
Consumption
12.4
21.8
20.4
19.3
22.6

Source: US Department of Energy

 

a). Find a polynomial function of degree 3 that models the data.
b). Graph f and the data together.
c). Estimate the natural gas consumption in 1982.


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