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21 votes
21 votes
A biologist has been observing a tree's height. Thirteen months into the observation, the tree was 21.74 feet tall. Sixteen months into the observation, the tree was 22.58 feet tall. What is the rate at which the tree is growing? In other words, what is the slope if you plotted height versus time? Use ft for feet and mo for months.

User Mraron
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1 Answer

13 votes
13 votes

we have two values of time and height

these could serve as our x and y


\begin{gathered} x_1=13,y_1=21.74_{} \\ x_2=16,y_2=22.58 \end{gathered}

to find the tree's growth rate, we find the slope.


=\frac{y_2-y_1}{x_(2-)x_{1_{}}}\text{ =}\frac{22.58\text{ - 21.74}}{16\text{ -13}}=(0.84)/(3)=\text{ 0.28 f}t\text{ /mo}

User EducateYourself
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