Kelly and Greta are asked to write an equation for the scenario below. “One person was able to plant 4 trees in the same amount
of time that 5 people working together were able to plant 20 trees.” The girls agree that x represents the number of people working and y represents the number of trees planted. Kelly wrote the equation , and Greta wrote the equation . Which person is correct, and why? Kelly is correct; each person plants more trees than the person before them. Kelly is correct; and . Greta is correct; each person plants 4 more trees than the person before them. Greta is correct; and .
Greta is correct sine you can substitute different number of people for each of the values of and y and check that each person will still plant 4 trees.
For example:
4x = 4(1) = 4 trees; and
4 x 5 = 20
but you should follow a certain pattern to increase the value of x, such that every foe every value of x, one person is able to plant 4 trees.
