Explain one mistake that you think scholars in our class are likely to make on the question below. Then explain one thing scholars in our class should do to avoid that mistake. Thomas’s height increased by 5% from last year to this year. This year, he is 5 feet and 3 inches tall. How tall was Thomas last year?
One mistake that scholars in our class are likely to make on this question is not taking into account the units of measurement. Specifically, scholars may fail to convert the height given in feet and inches to a singular unit for calculations.
To avoid this mistake, scholars in our class should convert the height given in feet and inches to a singular unit such as inches or centimeters. By doing so, they can work with a single unit of measurement and easily calculate the 5% increase. One way to convert the height given in feet and inches to inches is by multiplying the number of feet by 12 (since there are 12 inches in a foot) and then adding the number of inches. By converting the measurements to a single unit, scholars will be able to accurately calculate Thomas's height last year.