Given n data points there exist a unique polynomial of degree at most n-1 giving those points. Here we have three data points, (7, 24), (8, 19), and (10, 9), so we can fit a quadratic, y=ax2+bx+c, to them. We must have 24= 49a+ 7b+ c, 19= 64a+ 8b+ c, and 9= 100a+ 10b+ c. Subtract the first equation from the second to get -5= 35a+ b, eliminating c. Subtract the first equation from the third to get -15= 6a+ 3b, also eliminating c. Subtract 3 times the first of those equations from the second to get 0= 99a so a= 0 (and the formula is actually linear, not quadratic). Then 6a+ 3b= 3b= -15 so b= -5. Finally 24= 0- 35+ c so c= 24+ 35= 59. The formula is y= -5x+ 59.
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