The number of branches of an oak tree and a birch tree since $1950$ are represented by the following tables: || **Oak tree** || Time (years)| Branches - | - | - $0$ | $34$ $3$ | $46$ $6$ | $59$ $9$ | $70$ $12$ | $82$ || **Birch tree** || Time (years)| Branches - | - | - $0$ | $8$ $10$ | $33$ $20$ | $128$ $30$ | $512$ $40$ | $2049$ **Determine whether the data described in the tables is *best* modeled by a linear function or an exponential function.** [[☃ categorizer 1]]