Question

A plant measured x inches tall last week and 8 inches tall this week.

1. Circle the expression that represents the number of inches the plant grew this week. Explain how you know.
◦ x - 8
◦ 8 - x
2. For the expression not chosen, describe a situation that the expression might represent.

Answer 1

1.) 8 - x subtraction gives you the difference of 2 numbers. In this case, that would mean the difference of the plant’s height at the end and beginning.
2.) x - 8 would be the opposite, where the plant starts out as 8 inches and ends at x inches.