Question

in her garden, pat plants the seed 1 1/2 in. below the ground. after one - month the tomato plant has grown a total of 12 1/4 in. how many inches is the plant above the ground?
the tomato plant is in. above the ground.
(type an integer, proper fraction, or mixed number)

Explanation:

Step1: Convert mixed - numbers to improper fractions

$1\frac{1}{2}=\frac{2\times1 + 1}{2}=\frac{3}{2}$ and $12\frac{1}{4}=\frac{4\times12+1}{4}=\frac{49}{4}$

Step2: Subtract the part below the ground from the total length

We want to find the part above the ground. Let $x$ be the part above the ground. Then $x=\frac{49}{4}-\frac{3}{2}$. We need a common denominator, which is 4. So $\frac{3}{2}=\frac{3\times2}{2\times2}=\frac{6}{4}$. Then $x = \frac{49}{4}-\frac{6}{4}=\frac{49 - 6}{4}=\frac{43}{4}$

Step3: Convert the improper fraction back to a mixed - number

$\frac{43}{4}=10\frac{3}{4}$

Answer:

$10\frac{3}{4}$