Question: Thompson Photo Works purchased several new, highly sophisticated machines. The production department needed some guidance with respect to qualifications needed by an operator. Is age a factor? Is the length of service as a machine operator important? In order to explore further the factors needed to estimate performance on the new machines, four variables were listed:

X₁ = Length of time employee was a machinist. (LOTM)
X₂ = Machanical aptitude test score. (MAS)
X₃ = Prior on-the-job rating. (OTJT)
X₄ = Age.

Performance on the new machine is designated Y.

Thirty machinists were selected at random. Data were collected for each, and their performances on the new machines were recorder. A few results are:

Name         Performance     LOTM     MAS    OTJP     Age
Andy Kosin      112              12        312     121       52
Sue Annis       113               2         380     123       27

The equation is:

Y1 (upper) = 11.6 + 0.4X1 + 0.286X2 + 0.112X3 + 0.002X4

a. What is the equation called?

b. How many dependent variables are there? Independent variables?

c. What is the number 0.286 called?

d. As age increases by one year, how much does estimated performance on the new machines increase?

e. Carl Knox applied for the job at Photo Works. He has been a machinist for six years, and scored 280 on the MAS. Carl's prior on-the-job performance rating is 97, and he is 35 years old. Estimate Carl's performance on the new machine.