A rose garden has 16 bushes in the first row, 13 bushes in the next row, then 10 , and so on. If there are 51 bushes in the garden, in how many rows are they planted?
A) 7
B) 5
C) 6
D) 3

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The pattern decreases by 3 bushes per row (16, 13, 10, ...). To find the total number of rows, we can use the formula for the sum of an arithmetic series, $S_n = \frac{n}{2}[2a + (n-1)d]$, where $S_n$ is the sum of the first $n$ terms, $a$ is the first term, $d$ is the common difference, and $n$ is the number of terms. Here, $S_n = 51$, $a = 16$, and $d = -3$. Solving for $n$ gives us 6 rows.

A Rose Garden Has 16 Bushes in the First Row