Ethan planted a tree that was 1.85 meters tall. Several years later, the tree is 5.30 meters tall. Which equation can be used to find
, the number of meters the tree has grown? 1.85 (5.30) =
1.85 + 5.30 =
1.85 +
= 5.30 1.85
= 5.30
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer:
1.85 + ___ = 5.30
This equation can be used to find how many meters the tree has grown.
Explanation
To determine how much the tree has grown, we need to find the difference between its height now and the height it was when Ethan first planted it.
The original height of the tree was 1.85 meters, and the current height is 5.30 meters. The growth of the tree is the change in height, which means we are looking for the amount that was added to 1.85 meters to reach 5.30 meters.
Let’s represent the unknown growth with a blank or a variable, say x. This gives us the equation:
1.85 + x = 5.30
This equation asks: What number added to 1.85 gives 5.30?
To solve this, subtract the original height from the current height:
5.30 − 1.85 = 3.45
So, the tree grew 3.45 meters over the years.
Now, let’s examine the other options and why they are incorrect:
- 1.85 × 5.30 = → This suggests multiplying the heights, which doesn’t relate to how much the tree has grown.
- 1.85 + 5.30 = → This adds the two heights together, giving 7.15, which doesn’t make sense in this context.
- 1.85 = 5.30 → This is incorrect because 1.85 is not equal to 5.30.
The only equation that logically represents the question is:
1.85 + ___ = 5.30
This reflects a basic “part + change = total” relationship in math. In this case, the original height is the part, the growth is the change, and the total is the final height. Solving for the blank (growth) gives:
5.30 − 1.85 = 3.45
So the tree has grown 3.45 meters.
