Final answer:
Using algebra, we set up the equation 92 + x = 120 to determine the number of inches x the Komodo dragon needs to grow. After subtracting 92 from 120, we find that the Komodo dragon needs to grow 28 inches to reach 120 inches in total length.
Step-by-step explanation:
To solve this problem, we will use basic algebra. Let's define x as the number of inches the Komodo dragon needs to grow to reach 120 inches. We can set up the following equation:
92 inches + x = 120 inches
To find the value of x, we need to isolate the variable by subtracting 92 inches from both sides of the equation:
x = 120 inches - 92 inches
After performing the subtraction, we find that:
x = 28 inches
Therefore, the Komodo dragon still needs to grow 28 inches to reach the full length of 120 inches.
We chose to use algebra for this problem because it's an effective tool for finding unknown quantities in equations. The tool one would normally use to measure the length of an item is a ruler, but since we're finding a difference in lengths through calculation, no physical measurement tool is needed here.