To complete the following assignment, go to this week's Final Project link in the left navigation.
Focus of the Final Project
To complete this project, use the "Final Project Data Set" found in your eCollege classroom in the Final Project description.

PART I:

1. Calculate the mean yearly value using the average gas prices by month found in the "Final Project Data Set."
2. Using the years as your x-axis and the annual mean as your y-axis, create a scatterplot and a linear regression line.
3. Answer the following questions using your scatterplot and linear regression line:
4. What is the slope of the linear regression line?
5. What is the Y-intercept of the linear regression line?
6. What is the equation of the linear regression line in slope-intercept form?
7. Based on the linear regression line, what would be an estimated cost of gas in the year 2020?
8. What are the residuals of each year?
9. Select a current price that you have seen or paid recently for gas. Is that price within the range of the linear regression line or is it an outlier? Is it within the confidence interval of 5% or either end?
10. PART II:

Imagine that you are a manager at a delivery service and you are creating a report to project the effects on your company of rising gas prices in the next ten years. Using the preceding statistical analysis as your basis and outside scholarly resources to support your claims, write a 3 to 5 page paper interpreting the results from this perspective. Include the following considerations:

• Introduce the project and its significance to the company.
• Explain the statistical analysis that you completed in Part I. Be sure to explain where the data came from, what analysis was done, and what the results were.
• Give conclusions that you have drawn from the data. Consider the effects of your gas price predictions on the delivery business. Also consider whether or not you believe your predicted gas prices are accurate. What could occur in the future that would change your linear regression line and therefore your prediction?
• Writing the Final Project

The Final Project:

Part I must be provided as an Excel spreadsheet. It must be complete and show all work, not just a final amount or answer
Part II must be 3 to 5 double-spaced pages in length, and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center
Must include a title page with the following:
a. Title of paper
b. Student's name
c. Course name and number
d. Instructor's name
e. Date submitted

1. Must include an introductory paragraph with a succinct thesis statement
2. Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought
3. Must conclude with a restatement of the thesis and a conclusion paragraph
4. Must use at least 3 scholarly resources, including a minimum of 2 from the Ashford Online Library
5. Must document all sources in APA style, as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center
6. Must include a separate reference page, formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center