Question: The data below is the number of breeding pairs of merlins in an isolated area in each of nine ears and the percent of males who returned the next year. The data show that the percent returning is lower after successful breeding seasons and that the relationship is roughly linear. Use excel to find the least-squares regression line and predict the percent of returning males after a season with 30 breeding pairs.

Breeding Pairs Percent of males returning

28 82

29 83, 70, 61

30 69

32 58

33 43

38 50, 47