Question

Four people have found the distance in kilometers across a small bridge using different methods.Their results are given in the table. Order the distances from least to greatest.

Mindy lAaron l Tanya l Harold
5.5¯ l 23/4 l √28 l 5 1/2 l

Answer 1

To order the distances from least to greatest, we first need to convert all the values in the table to the same format (either all decimals or all fractions).

1. **Mindy's distance**: \(5.5\) (which is \(5 \frac{1}{2}\) in mixed number form but already in decimal form)

2. **Aaron's distance**: \( \frac{23}{4} = 5.75 \) (since \( 23 \div 4 = 5.75\))

3. **Tanya's distance**: \( \sqrt{28} \)

To evaluate \( \sqrt{28} \):
\[
\sqrt{28} = \sqrt{4 \times 7} = \sqrt{4} \times \sqrt{7} = 2 \sqrt{7}
\]
To find a decimal approximation, use \( \sqrt{7} \approx 2.64575 \):
\[
2 \sqrt{7} \approx 2 \times 2.64575 \approx 5.2915
\]

4. **Harold's distance**: \(5 \frac{1}{2} = 5.5\)

Now we have:
- Mindy: \(5.5\)
- Aaron: \(5.75\)
- Tanya: \(5.2915\)
- Harold: \(5.5\)

Now we can order these from least to greatest:

1. Tanya: \( \sqrt{28} \approx 5.2915 \)
2. Mindy: \(5.5\)
3. Harold: \(5.5\)
4. Aaron: \(5.75\)

In summary, the order from least to greatest is:
Tanya < Mindy = Harold < Aaron