Question

In a list of numbers, the pattern increases by 0.001 as you move to the right. If the third number in the list is 0.064, what is the first number in the list? Explain how you know.

Answer 1

0.064 is the third number in the list

0.064 - 0.001, or 0.063 is the second number in the list

So, the first number in the list is 0.063 - 0.001, or 0.062

Answer 2

The correct answer is:

The first number is 0.062.

Explanation:

Let x represent the first number in the list.

We add 0.001 to each number to find the next number; this gives us:

x + 0.001 + 0.001 = 0.064

Combining like terms, we have:

x + 0.002 = 0.064

Subtract 0.002 from each side:

x + 0.002 - 0.002 = 0.064 - 0.002

x = 0.062