Answer: To calculate the growth factor, you would need to determine the slope of the line of best fit, which is typically calculated using linear regression. The slope represents the change in the y-variable (in this case, age) per unit change in the x-variable (in this case, diameter).
Step-by-step explanation: So if the slope of the line of best fit is, for example, 5 years per inch, then the growth factor for the tree would be 1/5 (or 0.2) inches per year. This means that for every inch of diameter growth, the tree would grow 0.2 years in age.
It's important to note that the growth factor can vary depending on the particular species of tree, environmental factors, and other variables.