Which of the following numbers could be used to specify how many cups of flour should be used in a bread recipe?

Responses

−3
4/7
square root of 3
2 3/4

1 answer

To specify how many cups of flour should be used in a bread recipe, the number needs to be a non-negative value, preferably a rational number that makes sense in a cooking context (i.e., preferably a whole number or a fraction that is positive).

Let's evaluate the options:

  • −3: This is negative, so it cannot represent a quantity of flour.
  • 4/7: This is a positive fraction, which can specify a valid amount of flour.
  • square root of 3: This is an irrational number, which is less practical for measuring cups in a recipe, although it is positive.
  • 2 3/4: This is a mixed number that represents a positive amount (2.75 cups of flour), which is valid.

Accepted options for the number of cups of flour are:

  • 4/7
  • 2 3/4

So, both 4/7 and 2 3/4 could be used to specify the amount of flour in a recipe.