Final answer:
Using the linear model y = 1,550 + 0.36x, the predicted annual cost for a car driven 15,000 miles is calculated to be $6,950, matching option d in the multiple-choice question.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asking for the predicted annual cost of maintaining an automobile based on the number of miles driven. The model provided is y = 1,550 + 0.36x, where y represents the annual cost and x is the number of miles driven. To find the predicted cost for 15,000 miles, we substitute x with 15,000 in the equation and perform the calculation: y = 1,550 + 0.36(15,000).
y = 1,550 + 5,400 = 6,950.
Therefore, the predicted annual cost for a car driven 15,000 miles is $6,950, which corresponds to option d.