Answers:

What can you say about the number of reported eruptions over the last five centuries?

There were about 16 eruptions during the first 300 years, and about 50 in the last 200 years. The total number of reported eruptions is about 66. This averages out to about one eruption every eight years. During this century, there has been about one eruption every three years.

What might be the cause for the recent increase in the number of reported eruptions of the last two centuries compared to the earlier three?

There are many more eruptions since 1800 than in the three centuries earlier. Two explanations are possible. First, the volcano may have become much more active in the last two centuries, Volcanoes don't erupt the same amount of time forever.

A second possible explanation is that with the increase in population, education, and scientific awareness and reporting over the last two hundred years, there have been more accurate records of the volcano's activity. Which do you think is the best explanation? How could you test which one is best?

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