Final answer:
The rate that best represents the relationship between the population of the city and its area is B) 24 people per square mile, calculated by dividing the population (13,200 people) by the city area (550 square miles).
Step-by-step explanation:
The city with an area of 550 square miles has a population of 13,200 people. To find the rate that would best represent the relationship between the population and the area, one needs to calculate the population density. Population density is calculated as the total population divided by the total area. In this case, you would divide 13,200 people by 550 square miles.
So, the correct calculation would be:
13,200 people รท 550 square miles = 24 people per square mile.
Therefore, the rate that best represents the population's relationship with the city's area is 24 people per square mile, which is option B.