The following table shows the US gross domestic product GDP

The following table shows the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) G, in trillions of dollars, as a function of the year t.

(a) Explain in practical terms what G(2008) means.

The expression G(2008) is the year when the U.S. gross domestic product had a value of 11.87 trillion dollars. The expression G(2008) is the U.S. gross domestic product in trillions of dollars in the year 2008.     The expression G(2008) is the average of G(2004) and G(2008). The expression G(2008) is the gross domestic product in trillions of dollars, multiplied by 2008.

Find G(2008).
$ trillion

(b) Use functional notation to express the gross domestic product in 2009, and estimate that value. (Round the estimated value to two decimal places.)
G

= $ trillion

(c) What is the average yearly rate of change in G from 2008 to 2010? (Round your answer to two decimal places.)
$ trillion

(d) Use your answer from part (c) to predict the gross domestic product in the year 2012. (Round your answer to two decimal places.)
$ trillion

Solution

a) G(2008) : The expression G(2008) is the U.S. gross domestic product in trillions of dollars in the year 2008.

b) G(2008) = $14.37 trillions

c) Avg rate of change from 2008 to 2010 = (G(2010) - G(2008) )/( 2010 - 2008)

= ( 14.66 - 14.37)/2

= 0.15 trilion dollar per year

d) In the year 2012 , time between 2008 to 2012 =4

= 0.15*4 = 0.60 trillion dollar

So, G(2012) = 14.37 + 0.6 = $ 14.97 trillion