Question

A caterer uses a potato salad dressing with the amounts, in tablespoons (tbsp), of vinegar and sugar shown in the table below.

Vinegar (tbsp) Sugar (tbsp)
12 8
18 12
24 16
She decides to make a dressing that is sweeter than the original recipe by increasing the ratio of sugar to vinegar.

Which measurements of ingredients would result in a dressing that is sweeter than the original?


16 tbsp vinegar, 8 tbsp sugar


24 tbsp vinegar, 3 tbsp sugar


8 tbsp vinegar, 6 tbsp sugar


3 tbsp vinegar, 2 tbsp sugar

Answer 1

Original sugar-to-vinegar ratio = 8/12 = 2/3. We want sugar/vinegar > 2/3.

- 16 v, 8 s: 8/16 = 1/2 < 2/3 — not sweeter
- 24 v, 3 s: 3/24 = 1/8 < 2/3 — not sweeter
- 8 v, 6 s: 6/8 = 3/4 > 2/3 — sweeter
- 3 v, 2 s: 2/3 = 2/3 — same sweetness

Answer: 8 tbsp vinegar, 6 tbsp sugar.