Question: Between which two consecutive whole numbers does $\sqrt{55}$ lie? Fill out the sentence below to justify your answer and use your mouse to drag $\sqrt{55}$ to an approximately correct location on the number line.
$\sqrt{55}$
1. **State the problem:** We need to find between which two consecutive whole numbers the value of $\sqrt{55}$ lies.
2. **Recall the squares of whole numbers near 55:**
$$7^2 = 49$$
$$8^2 = 64$$
3. **Compare 55 with these squares:**
Since $49 < 55 < 64$, it means that $\sqrt{55}$ is between $7$ and $8$.
4. **Fill in the sentence:**
Since $\sqrt{49} = 7$ and $\sqrt{64} = 8$, it is known that $\sqrt{55}$ is between $7$ and $8$.
5. **Explanation:**
The square root function is increasing, so if $a^2 < b < c^2$, then $a < \sqrt{b} < c$. Here, $7^2 = 49$ and $8^2 = 64$, and since $55$ lies between $49$ and $64$, $\sqrt{55}$ lies between $7$ and $8$.
**Final answer:** $\sqrt{55}$ lies between the consecutive whole numbers $7$ and $8$.