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AlgebraEasyHeight of a burning candle

Algebra practice question

A candle is 24 centimetres tall and burns down at a constant 3 centimetres per hour. How tall, in centimetres, is the candle after 5 hours?

Answer: 9

Height = 24 − 3 × 5 = 24 − 15 = 9.

Common wrong answers

If you answered 15
15 is the amount burned, not the height remaining.
If you answered 21
21 is 24 − 3, one hour's burning only.
If you answered 39
39 adds the 15 instead of subtracting it; the candle gets shorter.

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