Question

A zucchini plant in Darnell’s garden was 10 centimeters tall when it was first planted. Since then, it has grown approximately 0.5 centimeter per day. a. Write a rule to describe the function. b. After how many days will the zucchini plant be 18.5 centimeters tall?

Answer 1

10+0.5*x
Day 1 10.5
Day 2 11
Day 3 11.5
Day 4 12
Day 5 12.5
Day 17 18.5

Answer 2

f(x) = 10 + 0.5x

Where x represents the number of days.

After 17 days the plant would be 18.5 cm tall.

Explanation:

Let x represents the number of days after which the height of the plant would be 18.5 centimeters,

Given,

The original height of the plant = 10 cm

Also, it has grown approximately 0.5 centimeter per day,

So, the total increment in height after x days = 0.5x

The final height of the plant after x days = Original height + Total increment

f(x) = 10 + 0.5x

Which is the required function.

Now, f(x) = 18.5 cm

⇒ 10 + 0.5x = 18.5

Subtracting 10 on both sides,

0.5x = 8.5

Divide both sides by 0.5,

x = 17

Hence, after 17 days the plant would be 18.5 cm tall.