The Greenland shark is thought to be the longest-living vertebrate on earth. Early estimates of its maximum age were based on the fact that such sharks grow in length only about a centimeter per year, and yet an adult shark can reach a length of 15 feet. Estimate how long an 11 foot shark might have lived. (A newborn shark is about 1 foot long.)

The shark might have lived for 305 years

Step-by-step explanation:

- Lets explain how to solve the problem

- The Greenland shark is thought to be the longest-living vertebrate

on earth because its maximum age were based on the fact that

such sharks grow in length only about a centimeter per year

- We want to estimate how long an 11 foot shark have lived

∵ The age of the shark depends on the length of it

∵ The newborn shark is about 1 foot long

∵ The adult shark is 11 feet long

∴ The shark increased by ⇒ 11 - 1 = 10 feet

∵ The sharks grow in length only about 1 centimeter per year

- Lets find how many centimeters in 10 feet

∵ 1 foot = 30.48 centimeter

∴ 10 feet = 10 * 30.48 = 304.8 centimeter

∵ The sharks grow 1 cm per year

∴ The age of the shark = 304.8/1 = 304.8 years ≅ 305 years

∴ The shark might have lived for 305 years