To find the combined height of the 8 longest flowers, we need to first consider the flower heights provided:
- 6 inches
- 6.5 inches (or \(6 \frac{1}{2}\))
- 7 inches
- 7.5 inches (or \(7 \frac{1}{2}\))
- 8 inches
- 8.5 inches (or \(8 \frac{1}{2}\))
Now, we are given flower heights but we don't have the exact number of flowers in total. However, it seems we need the combined height of the longest 8 flowers. As only 6 heights are provided, we will assume these heights are repeated enough times or only the longest ones are considered.
Let's first convert all the heights to improper fractions to easily perform addition:
- 6 inches = \(6\)
- \(6 \frac{1}{2}\) = \(6.5 = \frac{13}{2}\)
- 7 inches = \(7\)
- \(7 \frac{1}{2}\) = \(7.5 = \frac{15}{2}\)
- 8 inches = \(8\)
- \(8 \frac{1}{2}\) = \(8.5 = \frac{17}{2}\)
If there are more than these heights available, they should be equal or greater. Since we need the 8 longest, without loss of generality we will consider repetitions of the heights provided.
To approximate a likely situation especially since it only asks for a sum from the available options, let's see what sum we can achieve from 8 heights of the tallest available:
The two tallest heights are \(8 \frac{1}{2}\) (8.5 inches) and 8 inches. Here are our 8 heights:
- 8.5 (used 4 times) = \(4 * 8.5 = 34\)
- 8 (used 4 times) = \(4 * 8 = 32\)
Adding these two sets gives: \[ 34 + 32 = 66 \text{ inches} \]
Now let's divide by 8 to find what that averages back, instead note that getting combined for 3 elements at 8.5 and 5 at 8 (if imagining one less repeat on the shorter one) yield viable heights repeatedly.
The more practical method would be to add finite sequences for anything plausible out of available options:
- Each tall flower tallied: \( 8.5 + 8.5 + 8.5 + 8.5 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 = 66 \)
*Conclusion from this method: Ultimately looking through:
Thus we'd expect combined from selections \(63 \frac{1}{4} \text{ inches or would validate } 63 \), emphasizing closest tallied ones matching choices.
Among the given options (59 3/4, 61 1/2, 62 1/4, 63 1/4), the closest combined height is 63 1/4 inches.
It's dependent on rationalization of grouped assumption of implied numbers or rounds taken likely known!