In the United States, the high school dropout rate in 1980 was 14.1%. By 2005 the dropout rate was 9.4%.

a. Multiple choice: The linear regression model most closely fitting this data (where r represents high school dropout rate in percent and t represents years since 1980) is:

A. r = 0.188t + 14.1 C. r = 5.3t + 14.1

B. r = 5.3t + 14.1 D. r = 0.188t + 14.1

b. Use the model to predict high school dropout rate in 2022 (give answer to nearest tenth of a percent) Show work!

c. Fill in the blanks to interpret the slope of the equation: The rate of change of US high school dropout rate with respect to time is

____________________ per ______________. (Include units of measurement.)