Based on collected data, the number of employees at a firm can be modeled using...

The function is:

f(x)=10× 〖 1.09 〗 ^x

This is an exponential growth function because:

1.09 > 1

For an exponential growth function, the rate of increase becomes larger as time passes. That means later intervals usually have faster average increases than earlier intervals.

Since xrepresents years since 2001:

2001 ⇒ x=0

2003 ⇒ x=2

2005 ⇒ x=4

2013 ⇒ x=12

2016 ⇒ x=15

2019 ⇒ x=18

2021 ⇒ x=20

The latest interval is:

2013 " to " 2021

Because the graph is exponential growth and is steepest later in time, this interval has the fastest average increase.