Question

make a prediction about which rocket design will perform better in a contest that scores a rocket based on the sum of the heights of three flights. explain.
design a: 101 ft, 132 ft, 82 ft, 110 ft, 143 ft
design b: 124 ft, 107 ft, 127 ft, 119 ft, 111 ft

Explanation:

Step1: Calculate total for Design A (sum of all 5, but we can check top 3)

Top 3 heights of Design A: 143 ft, 132 ft, 110 ft. Sum: \(143 + 132 + 110 = 385\) ft.

Step2: Calculate total for Design B (sum of top 3)

Top 3 heights of Design B: 127 ft, 124 ft, 119 ft. Sum: \(127 + 124 + 119 = 370\) ft.
(Alternatively, sum all 5 and take top 3, but top 3 sum is key. Design A's top 3 sum is higher.)

Answer:

Design A will perform better. To determine this, we consider the sum of the three highest flight heights (as the contest scores based on the sum of three flights). For Design A, the three highest heights are 143 ft, 132 ft, and 110 ft, with a sum of \(143 + 132 + 110 = 385\) ft. For Design B, the three highest heights are 127 ft, 124 ft, and 119 ft, with a sum of \(127 + 124 + 119 = 370\) ft. Since \(385>370\), Design A’s top - three flight heights sum to a greater value, so it is predicted to perform better.