Gas consumption and temperature A study was performed in Duke University to predict the monthly natural gas consumption in North Carolina as a function of the average monthly temperature. Residential gas consumptions were recorded from January 2009 to June 2015 and temperature measures were obtained as simple averages of those recorded at the airports of the 3 largest cities. The result shows that “an increase of one degree Celsius is worth about 641.79 million cubic feet in terms of monthly gas consumption reduction”.

Thus the gas consumption in a month where the average temperature is 25 Celsius will be 3209 MMcf less than a month where the average temperature is 20 Celsius.

a. For the interpretation in quotes, identify the response variable and explanatory variable.

b. State the slope of the regression equation, when average monthly temperature is measured in degrees Celsius and residential gas consumption in MMcf.

c. Explain how the value 3209 relates to the slope.