Professor John Morton has just been appointed chairperson of the Finance Department at Westland University. In reviewing the department's cost records, Professor Morton has found the following total cost associated with Finance 101 over the last five terms:

TermNumber of

Sections OfferedTotal CostFall, last year5$6,500Winter, last year3$7,000Summer, last year2$5,000Fall, this year7$13,500Winter, this year4$13,000

Professor Morton knows that there are some variable costs, such as amounts paid to graduate assistants, associated with the course. He would like to have the variable and fixed costs separated for planning purposes.

2-a. Using the least-squares regression method, estimate the variable cost per section and the total fixed cost per term for Finance 101.

2-b. Express these estimates in the formY = a + bX.