Suppose Henry decides to plant the hickory tree. Which result would be a cost?
The hickory tree will use up more space than the carnations would have used up. Henry will get to look at the hickory tree. He thinks it will look more beautiful than the carnations would have looked.
Henry is deciding whether to plant carnations or a hickory tree in his backyard. He wants to make his backyard more beautiful. But he 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 Henry wants or needs:
The hickory tree will use up more space than the carnations would have used up.