$[$The following information applies to the questions displayed below.$]$

Professor John Morton has just been appointed chairperson of the Finance Department at Westland University. In

reviewing the department's cost records, Professor Morton found the following total cost associated with Finance $101$ over

the last five terms:

Professor Morton knows 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.

Required:

$2-$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 form $Y=a+bx.$

$3-$a$.$ Assume because of the small number of sections offered during the Winter Term this year, Professor Morton will have to offer nine

sections of Finance $101$ during the Fall Term. Compute the expected total cost for Finance $101.$

$3-$b$.$ Can you see any problem with using the cost formula from part $(2)$ to derive this total cost figure?