Final answer:
Using the regression equation ŷ = -0.06x + 9.8 to predict ŷ for x=240.24 yields a value of approximately -4.6, but the result is an extrapolation and may not be reliable.
Step-by-step explanation:
To predict the value of ŷ when x=240.24 using the regression equation ŷ = -0.06x + 9.8, we substitute the given value of x into the equation:
ŷ = -0.06(240.24) + 9.8
Now, calculate the value:
ŷ = -14.4144 + 9.8
ŷ = -4.6144
Thus, the predicted value of ŷ when x=240.24 is approximately -4.6. However, since the original range of x values was from 241 through 290, this prediction is an extrapolation and may not be reliable because it lies outside the range of the observed data.