Calculating the Distance Between Mango Trees: A Straightforward Mathematical Approach

Imagine a straight line of eight mango trees, each spaced 2.5 meters apart. The question at hand is to determine the total distance between the first and the eighth tree. This is a straightforward application of mathematical principles, specifically the concept of intervals.

Understanding the Spacing

To start, it is important to understand the spacing concept. If the distance between each mango tree is 2.5 meters, then for eight trees in a line, there are seven intervals between them.

The total distance between the first and the eighth tree can be calculated by multiplying the number of intervals by the distance of each interval:

Number of intervals 8 - 1 7 Distance between first and eighth tree 7 intervals × 2.5 meters per interval 17.5 meters

Alternative Method: Using Units

An alternative method to calculate the distance involves viewing the eight trees as creating seven equal-length units between them. Each unit is 3 meters long:

Total distance 7 units × 3 meters per unit 21 meters

Alternatively, using the formula for the distance between the first and the nth tree, where n is the number of trees and the distance between each tree is 3 meters:

Distance (n - 1) × 3 meters

For eight trees:

Distance (8 - 1) × 3 meters 7 × 3 meters 21 meters

Visualizing the Intervals

Visually, imagine eight trees in a straight line. The line starts and ends with a tree, creating seven spaces between them. Each space is 3 meters:

Distance between the first and last tree 7 spaces × 3 meters per space 21 meters

Formulating the Answer

Using a more formal mathematical approach, the distance between the first and the nth tree can be represented as:

Distance (n - 1) × 3 meters

Plugging in n 8:

Distance (8 - 1) × 3 meters 7 × 3 meters 21 meters

This method ensures that any similar problem involving the calculation of distances between trees or other similar intervals can be solved systematically and accurately.

Conclusion

The calculation of the distance between the first and the eighth mango tree in a straight line of eight trees, with each tree spaced 2.5 meters apart, can be effectively determined by understanding the intervals or units between the trees. Using the formula and the visual representation, the distance is accurately calculated to be 21 meters.

Keywords: mango trees distance, tree spacing math, mathematical intervals