Final answer:
To find the average annual growth rate of the population, we can use the formula for calculating the slope of a straight line.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the average annual growth rate of the population, we can use the formula for calculating the slope of a straight line. The formula is: slope = (y2 - y1) / (x2 - x1), where (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) are the coordinates of two points on the line.
In this case, the initial population in 2004 is 1077, and the population in 2008 is 1781. So, (x1, y1) = (2004, 1077) and (x2, y2) = (2008, 1781).
Using these values, we can calculate the slope as follows: slope = (1781 - 1077) / (2008 - 2004) = 704 / 4 = 176.
Therefore, the average annual growth rate of the population during this period is 176.