The bar graph on the right shows the average cost of room and board at four-year public and private colleges for four selected years from 2011 through 2017. The data can be modeled by and in which and represent the average cost of room and board at public four-year colleges in the school year ending x years after 2010. Use these functions to complete parts (a) through (c) below. A side-by-side bar graph labeled "Average Cost of Room and Board at Four-Year Colleges" has a horizontal axis labeled with the classes 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 and a vertical axis labeled "Average Cost in dollars" from 0 to 16000 in increments of 2000. Two vertical bars are above each of the horizontal axis labels, where the left bar represents public colleges and the right bar represents private colleges. The labeled heights of the bars are as follows, where the year is listed first, and the heights of the bars are listed next from left to right: 2011, 4635 and 5049; 2013, 5110 and 5998; 2015, 7421 and 7989; 2017, 10,602 and 11,374.
Average Cost of Room and Board at Four-Year Colleges
2011
2013
2015
2017
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
16000
Average Cost ($)
4635
5049
5110
5998
7421
7989
Public Colleges
Private Colleges
Ending Year in School Year
a. According to the linear model, what was the average cost of room and board at public four-year colleges for the school year ending in ?
The average cost in was $
9981.
(Round to the nearest dollar as needed.)
b. According to the exponential model, what was the average cost of room and board at public four-year colleges for the school year ending in ?
The average cost in was $
nothing.
(Round to the nearest dollar as needed.)
Enter your answer in the answer box and then click Check Answer.