For this case we have that Cody average 165cm in height and that represented 10% higher than last year.
Then, making a rule of three we have:
165cm ----------> 100%
x --------------------> 10%
Where "x" represents the cm that equals 10%
![x = \frac {10 * 165} {100}\\x = 16.5cm](https://img.qammunity.org/2020/formulas/mathematics/middle-school/y6ofnxmgkbtta9tsa2rhv7ervcb0exdevs.png)
To know the height of Cody last year, we subtract:
![165cm-16.5cm = 148.5cm](https://img.qammunity.org/2020/formulas/mathematics/middle-school/pwkc817e0zumui9and4l69n8jqsy1wku6l.png)
So, Cody had 148.5 cm on the first day of school last year.
Answer:
148.5cm