The table shows the minimum wage rates for the United States during different years. Year
1978 1979 1980 1990 1991 1996 1997 2007 2008
2009
Minimum hourly wage (S) 2.65 2.90
3.35
3.80
4.25
4.75
5.15
5.85
6.55 7.25
(a) Write the least squares regression equation that models the data. Let x = time in years since
1900 and let y = minimum hourly wage.
(b) Use the equation to estimate the minimum hourly wage of a U. S. worker in 2025. Show your
work.