To find the exponential regression equation that models the dataset, we need to conduct an exponential regression analysis on the provided data points.
The given data points are:
- Year (x): 0.5, 1, 2, 2.5, 3
- Account value \(y\): 560, 1035, 3495, 6548, 9859
To perform an exponential regression, we'll typically use the form:
\[ y = a \cdot b^x \]
where \(a\) is the value when \(x = 0\) and \(b\) is the growth factor.
Using software or a calculator that has regression capabilities (or through manual calculation), you can typically compute the best-fit coefficients \(a\) and \(b\).
For this particular dataset, after performing the calculation, we can determine that the best-fit model is:
\[ y \approx 321.67 \cdot (3.23)^x \]
Based on the provided options, the correct answer is:
b. \(y = 321.67(3.23)^x\)