- GARDENING Simone planted a tomato plant and measured its height weekly. The total height at 2, 3, 4, and 5 weeks respectively were $13,16,19$, and 22 inches tall. How tall was the tomato plant when Simone planted it? Assume the relationship is linear.

Step 1 ：The problem is asking for the initial height of the tomato plant when it was planted. Since the relationship is linear, we can use the formula for a linear equation, y = mx + b, where m is the slope, x is the time in weeks, y is the height of the plant, and b is the y-intercept, which in this case would be the initial height of the plant.

Step 2 ：We can calculate the slope by taking the difference in height over the difference in time. Since the height increases by 3 inches each week, the slope is 3.

Step 3 ：We can then substitute one of the given points into the equation to solve for b. Let's use the point (2, 13).

Step 4 ：So, \(13 = 3*2 + b\). Solving for b will give us the initial height of the plant.

Step 5 ：Substituting the values we get \(13 = 3*2 + b\), which simplifies to \(13 = 6 + b\).

Step 6 ：Solving for b, we get \(b = 13 - 6\), which simplifies to \(b = 7\).

Step 7 ：Final Answer: The initial height of the tomato plant when Simone planted it was \(\boxed{7}\) inches.