Question

The table shows the numbers of cars manufactured by a company for selected years. Identify a polynomialfunction for cars manufactured in thousands where x represents the years since 1990.

Answer 1

P(x) =0.2x³ -0.1x² +1.4

1) Considering that table as y, or P(x) and x, the following values:

(2, 2.6) , (12.6, 4)

Notice that the 1st year or year zero is 1990.

2) Let's now plug into those Polynomials one coordinate pair, and check whether it's true:

P(x) =0.2x³ -0.1x² +1.4

P(2) = 0.2x³ -0.1x² +1.4

P(2) =2.6 True

3) Hence, the answer is P(x) =0.2x³ -0.1x² +1.4