Question: From 1997 through 2004, the value of U.S. exports to Mexico was as shown below. Data are in billions of dollars.

a) Fit a linear trend equation to the time series. Using this equation, determine the trend estimate for 2012.

b) Fit a quadratic equation to the time series, and then use the equation to determine the trend estimate for 2012.

c) Construct a graph of the time series along with the equations fitted in parts (a) and (b). Which equation appears to better fit the data?