The sales data of XYZ Ltd. (in millions of shillings) for the years 2001 to 2004 inclusiv are as given below: Year 2001 2002 2003 2004 Required: (1) (ii) 1 40 42 46 54 Quarter 2 64 84 78 78 3 124 150 154 184 4 58 62 96 106 The trend in the data using the least squares method. The estimated sales of each quarter of year 2004. (8 marks) (4 marks) The percentage variation of each quarter's actual sales for year 2004.

The least squares method is a mathematical method used to find the best fit line for a set of data points. To find the trend in the data using the least squares method, you would need to plot the data points on a graph and then use the method to find the line that best fits the data.

Once you have the line, you can use it to estimate the sales of each quarter of year 2004. To do this, you would need to find the sales values for each quarter on the line and then use those values as your estimates.

To find the percentage variation of each quarter's actual sales for year 2004, you would need to compare the actual sales for each quarter of that year with the estimated sales for that quarter. The percentage variation is calculated by taking the difference between the actual and estimated sales for a quarter and dividing it by the estimated sales for that quarter, then multiplying by 100 to express the result as a percentage. So, for example, if the estimated sales for a quarter were 100 and the actual sales for that quarter were 110, the percentage variation would be (110-100)/100 * 100 = 10%.