Planting

       Seed packets are loaded with mathematical information. These packets tell a gardener how far apart to plant seeds (distance measurement), the likelihood the seeds will germinate (probability), how long they will take to reach full maturity, as well as the cost per packet!

         This gives gardeners the opportunity to estimate planting expenses and predict the likelihood of the plants growing.

Example 1: Estimating Planting Expenses

            Say we wish to estimate how much it would cost us to plant a row of green beans in our garden. First   we must look at the information on the green beans packet. The packet says each bean (seed) should be planted 2” apart.

     Using our example garden, we know we will need 60 beans for our row of green beans.

       (10 feet in the row x 12” per foot = 120” in the row; 120” in the row / 2” per bean = 60 beans per row)

        Now, looking back at the packet, it says there are 20 beans per package. We now know we need 3 packets of beans, and, if each packet costs $2.00 we can expect to spend $6.00 planting our green beans!

Example 2: Prediction of Germination

              Using our earlier calculations we also have the ability to predict how many beans will actually grow into plants using the “Germination Rate” found on the back of our packet.

           Say the germination rate of these particular green beans is 95%. Knowing this rate, and that we are planting 60 beans, we can expect that 57 of these beans will grow into plants. (60 x .95 = 57).

Wow! Who ever thought gardening could be so mathematical?

           (Measurement, Numbers and Operations, Probability and Statistics)

*photo taken by: Phoebe Green