The same toy speed maps a later echo to a larger depth. Exact arithmetic here means exact results for the stated model inputs; measured inputs still carry uncertainty and significant-figure limits.

highlighted = computed this step

A later echo has a larger one-way time

Round-trip time 8 s gives half-time 4 s.

8/2=48/2=4
Echo depthA round-trip time is halved before speed turns it into depth.round tripdepth16rejected

The later reflector is deeper

The same speed gives depth 16 m, deeper than the 12 m echo.

44=164\cdot4=16
Echo depthA round-trip time is halved before speed turns it into depth.round tripdepth16rejected