What place to use when comparing 3,176 3,472

3. parallelogram

step-by-step explanation:

we turn each of our sides into direction vectors

ab=b-a=(3 - 7, 1 - 0) = (-4, 1)

bc=c-b=(1,6)

cd=d-c=(4,-1)

da=a-d=(-1,-6)

we see how the opposite sides have negated direction vectors; this is characteristic of a parallelogram.   we have congruent sides ab=cd and bc=da with unequal lengths because 1^2+6^2 is different from (-4)^2+1^2.   so it's not a square or a rhombus.  

we check the dot product of direction vectors of adjacent sides.   we have

ab dot bc = -4(1) + 1(6) = 2

that's not zero so the sides are not perpendicular.   we've ruled out rectangle.

the direction vectors indicate two pairs of congruent parallel sides, so we choose parallelogram over trapezoid.

55.44 inches

step-by-step explanation:

part a. assuming a perfectly linear relationship, we can find the slope from the first two data points.

slope = m = (change in rainfall)/(change in years)

= (61.80 -62.33)/(2005 -2004) = -0.53/1 = -0.53

then the point-slope form of the equation of the line can be written as

y = m(x -h) +k . . . . . m = -0.53, (h, k) = (0, 62.33)

y = -0.53x +62.33 . . . x = years after 2004

part b. in 2017, x = 2017 -2004 = 13. then the predicted rainfall is

y = -0.53·13 +62.33 = 55.44 . . inches

the predicted rainfall in 2017 is 55.44 in.