Final answer:
To determine the heights of the plants on Day 0, substitute x = 0 into the equations. Plant 2 grew at a faster rate based on the coefficient of x in the equations. The two plants were never the same height within the given time range.
Step-by-step explanation:
a. To determine the heights of the plants on Day 0, we need to substitute x = 0 into the equations.
For Plant 1:
y₁ = 2(0) + 50 = 50 inches
For Plant 2:
y₂ = 4(0) + 20 = 20 inches
Therefore, on Day 0, Plant 1 height is 50 inches and Plant 2 height is 20 inches.
b. To determine which plant grew at a faster rate, we can compare the coefficients of x in the equations. The coefficient of x in Plant 1 is 2, while the coefficient of x in Plant 2 is 4. Since 4 > 2, Plant 2 grew at a faster rate.
c. The two plants were never the same height. This can be seen by solving the equations for when the heights y₁ and y₂ are equal:
2x + 50 = 4x + 20
50 - 20 = 4x - 2x
30 = 2x
x = 15
Since x = 15, it means the two plants would have the same height after 15 days. However, the given time period is 0 to 30 days, so they were never the same height within this range.
Learn more about Calculating heights and growth rates of bamboo plants