The correct answer is: C. time series analysis.
Time series analysis is a statistical method that is used to analyze data that is collected over time. It is often used to forecast future values of a time series, such as sales or earnings. Time series analysis can be used to identify trends, seasonality, and other patterns in the data.
Cross-reference analysis is a method of data analysis that is used to identify relationships between two or more variables. It is often used to identify which variables are correlated with each other. Cross-reference analysis can be used to identify which variables are important for predicting a particular outcome.
Exponential trending is a method of forecasting that is based on the assumption that the future value of a time series will be a linear function of the past values of the time series. Exponential trending is often used to forecast short-term values of a time series.
Data mining is a process of extracting patterns from data. It is often used to identify hidden relationships between variables. Data mining can be used to identify which variables are important for predicting a particular outcome.
In conclusion, the correct answer is: C. time series analysis.