Final answer:
The lateral surface area of the cone is approximately 346.08 square inches.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the lateral surface area of a cone, you can use the formula LSA = πrl, where r is the radius of the base and l is the slant height. In this case, the diameter is given, so you need to divide it by 2 to find the radius. The radius would be 6.5 inches, and the slant height is 17 inches. Now you can plug these values into the formula:
LSA = π(6.5)(17) = 110.4π ≈ 346.08 in².