Final answer:
The b. trend component is analogous to the seasonal component but over a longer period of time, reflecting the long-term direction or pattern in the data.
Step-by-step explanation:
The time series component that is analogous to the seasonal component but over a longer period of time is the b. trend component. The trend component represents the long-term direction or pattern in the data. It shows the overall increase or decrease in the data over a longer period of time.
For example, in a time series graph of temperature readings over several years, if the temperatures generally increase over time, it indicates a positive trend component. On the other hand, if the temperatures generally decrease over time, it indicates a negative trend component.