The file P16_03.xlsx gives the annual sales for Microsoft (in millions of dollars) for a 10-year period.

a. Fit an exponential trendline to these data.

b. By what percentage do you estimate that Microsoft will grow each year?

c. Why can’t a high rate of exponential growth continue for a long time?

d. Rather than an exponential curve, what type of curve might better represent the growth of a new technology?

e. If you can find Microsoft sales data since the period shown in the file, check whether its sales continued at the exponential rate from part b.