The population of Smalltown on January 1^st for $5$ years is shown in the table at right.

1. Write a slope statement for the given data.

   Answer (a):

   The slope is always positive and getting steeper.

2. Calculate the average rate of change per year in the population between 2011 and 2015.

   Hint (b):

   The average rate of growth is the change in people divided by the years that passed.

   Answer (b):

   $\frac{2796-2300}{4}=124\frac{\text{people}}{\text{year}}$

3. Approximate the rate of change of the population on January 1^st, 2014. Explain how you got your answer.

   Hint (c):

   Find the average rate of population increase between 2013 and 2015.