The Skelton Manufacturing Company recently did a study of its customers. A random sample of 50 customer accounts was pulled from the computer records. Two variables were observed:
y = Total doll volume of business this year
x = Miles customer is from corporate headquarters
The following statistics were computed:

a. Interpret the regression slope coefficient.
b. Using a significance level of 0.01, test to determine whether it is true that the farther a customer is from the corporate headquarters, the smaller the total dollar volume of business.