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A tree that is 8 tall is growing at a rate of 1 foot each year

A tree that is 10 feet tall is growing at a rate of 1/2 foot each year

How many years will it take the two trees to reach the same height?
Justify your response using mathematics.

User Bonnke
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1 Answer

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Let's assume that both trees will grow to the same height after 't' years.

After 't' years, the height of the first tree (growing at a rate of 1 foot per year) will be 8 + t feet.

Similarly, the height of the second tree (growing at a rate of 1/2 foot per year) will be 10 + (1/2)t feet after 't' years.

If we want both trees to reach the same height, we can set their heights equal to each other and solve for 't':

8 + t = 10 + (1/2)t

Subtracting 8 from both sides, we get:

t = 2 + (1/2)t

Subtracting (1/2)t from both sides, we get:

(1/2)t = 2

Multiplying both sides by 2, we get:

t = 4

Therefore, it will take 4 years for both trees to reach the same height.