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

Year Number of Admissions

1960 812

1965 983

1970 1127

1975 904

1980 1768

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?