A hospital administrator wanted to predict the number of patients her hospital would admit in 1990. The following data were obtained from past records:

a. What would the best prediction be for the number of admissions expected in 1990?

b. What serious caution should the administrator be aware of when making her prediction?

Year Number of Admissions 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 812 983 1127 904 1768