Question

As proof of your undying affection, at the age of 13, you carve the initials of your first love on the trunk of a maple tree. Thirty years later and somewhat jaded, trying to wistfully remember the name of your paramour, you return to the same tree, to find their initials that you so faithfully carved so many years before. If the tree grows 1 foot per year, and you originally carved those initials 4 feet from the ground, at what height will you find your sweetie’s initials? Explain your reasoning.

Answer 1

Here the initial height of the tree is not given so let's take it as 10 feet. You carved the initials at 4 feet from above the ground which is 6 feet below from the top of the tree (Remember this) So if the tree grew 1 foot every year and you come after thirty years then the the tree has grown 30 more feet in height which will be 30 + 10 (10 was the initial height) = This will give us 40 feet. So the tree is now 40 feet in height. At first the initials were 6 feet below the top, so the initials still will be 6 feet below the top. Which gives us 40 - 6 = 34. Therefore you will find the initials at 34 feet above the ground.

Hope this helps, Good luck!!!