Suppose Meg decides to plant the magnolia tree. Which result would be a cost?
The magnolia tree will use up more space than the hydrangeas would have used up. Meg will get to look at the magnolia tree. She thinks it will look more beautiful than the hydrangeas would have looked.
Meg is deciding whether to plant hydrangeas or a magnolia tree in her backyard. She wants to make her backyard more beautiful. But she also wants to leave space for doing fun things.
Before you decide to do something, it is often helpful to list costs and benefits.
Costs are what you give up or spend when you decide to do something. Costs involve giving up things that you want or need.
Benefits are what you gain or save when you decide to do something. Benefits involve gaining something that you want or need.
This result is a cost. It involves giving up or spending something that Meg wants or needs:
The magnolia tree will use up more space than the hydrangeas would have used up.