Question

The population of Canada, as estimated every five years since 1960, is shown in the table. 1. . Calculate the finite differences for the data set.

Answer 1

Given the question in the image, the following are the solution steps to answer the question.

STEP 1: Write the given data set

STEP 2: Find the finite difference

We first find the differences in the output values which is the population as seen below

`\begin{gathered} 19.68-17.91=1.77 \\ 21.32-19.68=1.64 \\ 23.21-21.32=1.89 \\ 24.59-23.21=1.38 \\ 25.94-24.59=1.35 \\ 27.79-25.94=1.85 \\ 29.35-27.79=1.56 \\ 30.77-29.35=1.42 \\ 32.31-30.77=1.54 \\ 34.01-32.31=1.70 \\ 35.75-34.01=1.74 \end{gathered}`

STEP 3: Find the second order difference

`\begin{gathered} 1.64-1.77=-0.13 \\ 1.89-1.64=0.25 \\ 1.38-1.89=-0.51 \\ 1.35-1.38=-0.03 \\ 1.85-1.38=0.47 \\ 1.56-1.85=-0.29 \\ 1.42-1.56=-0.14 \\ 1.54-1.42=0.12 \\ 1.70-1.54=0.16 \\ 1.74-1.70=0.04 \end{gathered}`

STEP 4: Find the third order difference