Make sure to use the Unit 4 Assignment template from Course Documents when you turn in your answers.

This assignment requires you to use Excel in all three questions. Make sure you explain your answers and provide the regression output tables for Questions 1 and 2 as you are showing work in the template.

You still need to submit the Excel file you used to generate your answers, in addition to the report in Word. Failure to submit the Excel file will result in a 20 point deduction.

Question 1

Shown below are rental and leasing revenue figures for office machinery and equipment in the United States over a 7-year period according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Use this data and the regression tool in the data analysis tool pack to run a linear regression.

Based on the formula you get from the regression output, answer the following questions:

a) What is the forecast for the rental and leasing revenue for the year 2011?

b) How confident are you in this forecast? Explain your answer by citing the relevant metrics. Do not just put down a number without explanation.

Year Rental and Leasing

($ millions)

2004 5,860

2005 6,632

2006 6,543

2007 5,952

2008 5,732

2009 5,423

2010 4,589

Question 2

Suppose a researcher gathered survey data from 19 employees and asked the employees to rate their job satisfaction on a scale from 0 to 100 (with 100 being perfectly satisfied). Suppose the following data represent the results of this survey. Assume that relationship with their supervisor is rated on a scale from 0 to 50 (0 represents a poor relationship and 50 represents an excellent relationship); overall quality of the work environment is rated on a scale from 0 to 100 (0 represents poor work environment and 100 represents an excellent work environment); and opportunities for advancement is rated on a scale from 0 to 100 (0 represents no opportunities and 100 represents excellent opportunities).

Answer the following questions:

a) What is the regression formula based on the results from your regression?

b) How reliable do you think the estimates will be based on this formula? Explain your answer by citing the relevant metrics. Do not just put down a number without explanation.

c) Are there any variables that do not appear to be good predictors of job satisfaction? How can you tell?

d) If a new employee reports that her relationship with her supervisor is 40, rates her opportunities for advancement to be at 30, finds the quality of the work environment to be at 75, and works 60 hours per week, what would you expect her job satisfaction score to be?

Job satisfaction Relationship with supervisor Opportunities for

advancement Overall quality of work

environment Total hours

worked per week

55 27 42 50 52

20 35 28 60 60

85 40 7 45 42

65 35 48 65 53

45 29 32 40 58

70 42 41 50 48

35 22 18 75 55

60 34 32 40 50

95 40 48 45 40

65 33 11 60 38

85 38 33 55 47

10 5 21 50 62

75 37 42 45 43

80 37 46 40 42

50 31 48 60 46

90 42 30 55 38

75 36 39 70 43

45 20 22 40 42

65 32 12 55 53

Question 3

Investment analysts generally believe the interest rate on bonds is related to the prime interest rate for loans.

a) Use the following data to construct a scatter graph and then fit a regression line to the data. Report the regression formula and the r-squared value from the chart (right click on the data points, select Add Trend line and select Options to show these metrics).

b) Do you think the bond rate can be predicted by the prime interest rate? Justify your answer using the relevant metrics.

Prime interest rate Bond rate

0.05 0.28

0.12 0.38

0.09 0.22

0.015 0.14

0.004 0.05

0.11 0.44

0.06 0.28

0.02 0.105

Directions for submitting your Assignment

Make sure to use the Unit 4 Assignment template from Course Documents when you turn in your answers. Submit your assignment to the Unit 4 Dropbox.

In all assignments, your answers must be justified by referencing the appropriate figures, metrics and charts. Your work is evaluated on this justification that demonstrates your understanding of the concepts. Just putting down the correct response without justification is not sufficient.

Grading Rubric

Your assignment will be graded based on the following breakdown.

Unit 4 Assignment

Criteria Points Possible Points Earned

Question 1a

2011 forecast for rental and leasing revenue is accurate. 6

Question 1b

Appropriate analysis of the reliability of forecast based on this formula. 6

Question 2a

Correct regression formula. 5

Question 2b

Appropriate analysis of the reliability of estimates based on this formula. 5

Question 2c

Appropriate analysis of whether there are any variables that do not appear to be good predictors. 5

Question 2d

Correct expected job satisfaction score. 5

Question 3a

Constructed a scatter graph and included a regression line. 6

Question 3b

Appropriate analysis of whether a bond rate could be predicted by the prime interest rate. 7

Properly completed assignment template. 5

Total 50