According to the US Census Bureau, "United States Census 2010", 33 million Americans were age 65 or older in 1995; an amount which climbed to 40 million in 2010.

(a) Which of the following linear equations could be used to predict number of Americans age 65 or older (in millions) y in a given year x, where x = 0 represents the year 1995? Explain/show work.

A. y = 15/7x + 33

B. y = 15/7x + 1995

C. y = 7/15x + 1995

D/ y = 7/15x + 33 (b) Use the equation from part (a) to predict the number of Americans age 65 or older (in millions) in the year 2031. Round answer to nearest tenth of a million people. Show work.

(c) Fill in the blanks to interpret the slope of the equation: The rate of change of number of Americans age 65 or older with respect to time is ______________________ per ________________. (Include units of measurement.)