Final answer:
To estimate the airline travel in 2012, we calculate years after 1975 as x=37 and substitute it in the equation y=47.87x+1345.04. This gives us an estimated travel of 3,116.23 thousand miles in 2012.
Step-by-step explanation:
To estimate the number of miles people flew on the airline in 2012 using the model y = 47.87x + 1345.04, where x is the number of years after 1975 and y is in thousands of miles, we first need to determine the value of x for the year 2012.
The year 2012 is 2012 - 1975 = 37 years after 1975, so x = 37. Then we plug this value into the model:
y = 47.87(37) + 1345.04
Now, calculate the value of y:
y = 47.87 × 37 + 1345.04 = 1771.19 + 1345.04 = 3116.23
Therefore, the model estimates that people flew 3,116.23 thousand miles in the year 2012 on the airline.