Final answer:
To find Joel's height, we determine Carlos's height by adding the 1 1/4 inches (Carlos is taller than Dan) to Dan's height of 58 1/4 inches. Then, we subtract the 2 1/2 inches (Joel is shorter than Carlos) from Carlos's calculated height to get Joel's height, which is 57 inches.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question involves solving for Joel's height based on the heights of Carlos and Dan. First, let's determine Carlos's height. Since Carlos is 1 1/4 inches taller than Dan, and Dan is 58 1/4 inches tall, we add these two amounts to find Carlos's height:
58 1/4 inches + 1 1/4 inches = 59 1/2 inches (Carlos's height).
Now, to find Joel's height, we subtract the difference in height between Joel and Carlos from Carlos's height:
59 1/2 inches - 2 1/2 inches = 57 inches (Joel's height).
Therefore, Joel is 57 inches tall.