Lesson 8-5  Problem-Solving Investigation

Use a Graph

ATTENDANCE  The data given in the table below shows the attendance at an annual golf tournament for the past 10 years.  Use a graph to help predict the attendance at the tournament in 2008.

Year	‘96	‘97	‘98	‘99	‘00	‘01	‘02	‘03	‘04	‘05	‘06	‘07	‘08	
Attendance
(in thousands)	 9	 11	10	 18	 12 	 13	 15 	 17	 14	 20				

UNDERSTAND	You know the attendance for 1996 – 2005.  You need to predict the attendance for 2008.	
PLAN	Organize the data in a graph so you can easily see any trends in the attendance figures.	
SOLVE	

The graph shows that as the years progress, the attendance figures increase.  You can predict that the attendance for 2008 will be about 22,000.	
CHECK	Draw a line through the points that is as close to as many of the points as possible, as shown.  The estimate is close to the line so the prediction is reasonable.