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A total of 3 questions refer to the following information. One method of calcul...

Question

A total of 3 questions refer to the following information.

One method of calculating the approximate age, in years, of a tree of a particular species is to multiply the diameter
of the tree, in inches, by a constant called the growth factor for that species. The table above gives the growth factors for eight species of trees.

(3 of 3) If a white birch tree and a pin oak tree each now have a diameter of 1 foot, which of the following will be closest to the difference, in inches, of their diameters 10 years from now?
(1 foot = 12 inches)

Options

A)
1.0
B)
1.2
C)
1.3
D)
1.4

Choice C is correct. According to the given information, multiplying a tree species’ growth factor by the tree’s diameter is a method to approximate the age of the tree. A white birch with a diameter of 12 inches (or 1 foot) has a given growth factor of 5 and is approximately 60 years old. A pin oak with a diameter of 12 inches (or 1 foot) has a given growth factor of 3 and is approximately 36 years old. The diameters of the two trees 10 years from now can be found by dividing each tree’s age in 10 years, 70 years, and 46 years, by its respective growth factor. This yields 14 inches and 15$$\frac{1}{3}$$ inches. The difference between 15$$\frac{1}{3}$$ and 14 is 1$$\frac{1}{3}$$, or approximately 1.3 inches.