Question

Kristen has been planting young trees in his garden. The maple tree that is 43 inches tall is growing 3 inches per month, whereas the oak tree that is 47 inches tall is growing 2 inches per month. In a few months, the two trees will be the same height. How long will that take? What will that height be?

Answer 1

At 4 months, the height will be equal.

The height will be 55 inches

Explanation:

Let the number of months be "m"

We can write two separate equations for each trees and equate them. Then we find the value of m to find when they will be same height.

Equation for Tree 1:

43 inches fixed and 3 inches per month, so that would be:

43 + 3m

Equation for Tree 2:

47 inches fixed and 2 inches per month, so that would be:

47 + 2m

Now we equate and find m:

43 + 3m = 47 + 2m

m = 47 - 43

m = 4

At 4 months, the height will be equal.

Now, what will be the height??

We just plug in m = 4 into anyone of the equation.

43 + 3m

43 + 3(4)

43 + 12

55

So, the height will be 55 inches