Question

Emma's dad and her Uncle Pete are trying to recreate their dad's famous dipping sauce for an upcoming family reunion. They remember thinking the sauce was too spicy when they were kids, but they can't remember exactly how much spicy chipotle sauce and tangy mayonnaise to mix now. Emma's dad uses 8 tablespoons of chipotle sauce and 12 tablespoons of mayonnaise. Uncle Pete uses 6 tablespoons of chipotle sauce and 10 tablespoons of mayonnaise. Who makes a spicier sauce?

Answer 1

Compare the fraction of chipotle in each mix.

- Dad: 8 chipotle, 12 mayo → total 20 → chipotle fraction = 8/20 = 0.40 = 40%.
- Uncle Pete: 6 chipotle, 10 mayo → total 16 → chipotle fraction = 6/16 = 0.375 = 37.5%.

Emma’s dad’s sauce is spicier (40% vs 37.5% chipotle).