Final answer:
The predicted population when x = 15 years, given the linearized regression equation log y = 0.23x + 0.8, is approximately 17,783.
Step-by-step explanation:
The given linearized regression equation is log y = 0.23x + 0.8. To find the predicted population when x=15 years, we first need to calculate log y by substituting the value of x into the equation:
log y = 0.23(15) + 0.8
log y = 3.45 + 0.8
log y = 4.25
To get the population value y, we need to convert the logarithmic value back to its exponential form. Since the base of the logarithm is not given, we'll assume it is base 10:
y = 10^(log y) = 10^(4.25)
y ≈ 17,783
The predicted population when x = 15 is approximately 17,783, which we round to the nearest whole number as requested.