Answer: $252$

Explanation:

$1$ . Define the variables for the linear model:

   - Let x be the number of years since $1993$ .

   - In $1993$ , $x = 0$ and the population is $52$. This is the y-intercept.

   - In $2013$ , $x = 2013 - 1993 = 20$ and the population is $219$.

$2$ . Calculate the slope (rate of change) of the linear model:

   - Slope $m = \dfrac{\text{change in population}}{\text{change in years}} = \dfrac{219 - 52}{20 - 0} = \dfrac{167}{20} = 8.35$ .

   - The population increases by $8.35$ thousand per year.

$3$ . Write the linear equation:

   - Using the slope-intercept form $y = mx + b$ , the equation is $P(x) = 8.35x + 52$, where P is the population in thousands.

$4$ . Predict the population in $2017$:

   - For the year $2017$ , $x = 2017 - 1993 = 24$.

   - Substitute $x=24$ into the equation:

     $p = P(24) = 8.35(24) + 52$

     $p = 200.4 + 52 = 252.4$

$5$ . Round to the nearest whole number:

   - The value of p is $252.4$ , which rounds to $252$.

$6$ . Conclusion:

   - To the nearest whole number, the value of p is $252$ .