Final answer:
Linear regression uses past data points to predict future values by finding the line of best fit. In this case, we would apply the method to the past 5 years of disk drive production data in Taiwan, indicating a steady increase in production, to forecast next year's production.
Step-by-step explanation:
To forecast the number of internal disk drives to be made in Taiwan next year using linear regression, we first need to interpret the provided data points which represent the number of disk drives (in millions) produced in the past 5 years. The data points are as follows:
- Year 1: 140 million disk drives
- Year 2: 160 million disk drives
- Year 3: 190 million disk drives
- Year 4: 200 million disk drives
- Year 5: 210 million disk drives
A linear regression will find the line of best fit through these data points, which can then be used to predict future values. This involves calculating the slope (change in y over change in x) and intercept (the point where the line crosses the y-axis). In this context, the calculations typically involve using statistical software or a calculator with linear regression capabilities. Once the linear equation representing the trend of disk drive production is obtained, we can input the next year (Year 6) into the equation to predict the number of disk drives produced. Without the actual calculations, we cannot provide a specific forecast value, but the trend suggests a steady increase in production.