The number of heart surgeries performed at Heartville General Hospital has increasedsteadily over the past years. The hospital’s administration is seeking the best method toforecast the demand for...

The number of heart surgeries performed at Heartville General Hospital has increasedsteadily over the past years. The hospital’s administration is seeking the best method toforecast the demand for such surgeries in 1998. The data for the past five years are shown.Six years ago, the forecast for 1993 was 41 surgeries, and the estimated trend was anincrease of 2 per year.