Question

Which of the following best models the data in the table?

Type of Function

This table presents the x and y values to identify the function that most accurately models the given dataset.
x y
2
8.5

4
46

6
107.5

8
193

(1 point)
Responses

exponential
exponential

quadratic
quadratic

cubic
cubic

linear
linear

Answer 1

Quadratic.

The second differences are constant: with Δx = 2, the first differences are 37.5, 61.5, 85.5 and the second differences are 24, 24. That indicates a quadratic. (In fact y = 3x^2 + 0.75x - 5 fits the points.)