Date US Population

Jul 1, 2012 313.85 million
Jul 1, 2011 311.59 million
Jul 1, 2010 309.35 million
Jul 1, 2009 306.77 million
Jul 1, 2008 304.09 million
Jul 1, 2007 301.23 million
Jul 1, 2006 298.38 million
Jul 1, 2005 295.52 million
Jul 1, 2004 292.81 million
Jul 1, 2003 290.11 million
Jul 1, 2002 287.63 million

3. The data for the United States population is out of date; however, you see a trend in the data that you can use to estimate the population for 2013 so you can reach today’s readers. Following the pattern, predict the approximate United States population be for July 2013? Justify your answer.

annual growth:

1.48 2.70 2.71 2.86 2.85 2.86 2.68 2.58 2.14 2.26

Average growth for past 2 years is 2.20, so I'd guess 316.05 million

If you want to do a last-squares line, that'd be cool, too.

Thank you Steve. That was my thinking as well. Appreciate it!!

To estimate the approximate United States population for July 2013, we can use the trend observed in the given data.

By analyzing the data, we can see that there is a consistent increase in the population from year to year. Therefore, it's reasonable to assume that this trend will continue in 2013.

To estimate the population for July 2013, we can calculate the average annual increase in population and apply it to the previous year's population.

Let's calculate the average annual increase in population using the data given:

Average annual increase = (Population in 2012 - Population in 2002) / 11

Average annual increase = (313.85 million - 287.63 million) / 11

Average annual increase = 26.22 million / 11

Average annual increase ≈ 2.384 million

Now, let's apply this average annual increase to the population in July 2012 to estimate the population for July 2013:

Estimated population for July 2013 ≈ Population in July 2012 + Average annual increase

Estimated population for July 2013 ≈ 313.85 million + 2.384 million

Estimated population for July 2013 ≈ 316.234 million

Therefore, based on the observed trend, the approximate United States population for July 2013 is estimated to be around 316.234 million.