Question: A paleobotanist measures the heights of 5 ancient tree trunks as 14 cm, 18 cm, 22 cm, 16 cm, and 20 cm. What is the arithmetic mean of these heights?

Sun, 03 May 2026 23:35:29 +0000

**Discover the Hidden Patterns in Nature’s Growth: What’s the Mean Height of These Ancient Trunks?** What happens when a paleobotanist measures the trunks of five long-dead ancient trees—ranging from 14 cm to 22 cm in diameter? The answer isn’t just a number—it’s a window into climate history, growth patterns, and the silent stories carried by fossils. For curious minds exploring environmental science or history, a simple calculation reveals deeper insights. Here’s the core question: A paleobotanist measures the heights of five ancient tree trunks as 14 cm, 18 cm, 22 cm, 16 cm, and 20 cm. What is the arithmetic mean of these heights? At first glance, this seems like a basic math challenge—but the trend behind it is far more compelling. With increasing interest in historical ecology and climate change, researchers are re-examining how tree growth reflects past environmental conditions. These measurements help build datasets that track changes over millennia. The arithmetic mean—essentially the “average” height—offers a concise metric for comparing growth across species and ecosystems. For enthusiasts, students, and professionals alike, understanding such data builds foundation knowledge critical to interpreting larger environmental shifts.