Question

Helena needs 3.5 cups of flour per loaf of bread and 2.5 cups of flour per batch of muffins. She also needs 0.75 cup of sugar per loaf of bread and 0.75 cup of sugar per batch of muffins. Helena has 17 cups of flour and 4.5 cups of sugar available for baking.

Which combination of loaves of bread and batches of muffins could Helena bake?

2 loaves of bread and 4 batches of muffins
3 loaves of bread and 3 batches of muffins
4 loaves of bread and 2 batches of muffins
5 loaves of bread and 1 batch of muffins

Answer 1

Check flour and sugar limits.

Sugar: 0.75(cups) per item so loaves + muffins ≤ 4.5/0.75 = 6. All options have total 6, so sugar is fine for each.

Flour: 3.5 per loaf + 2.5 per muffin must be ≤ 17.
- 2 loaves, 4 muffins: 3.5·2 + 2.5·4 = 7 + 10 = 17 ✓
- 3 loaves, 3 muffins: 3.5·3 + 2.5·3 = 10.5 + 7.5 = 18 ✗
- 4 loaves, 2 muffins: 3.5·4 + 2.5·2 = 14 + 5 = 19 ✗
- 5 loaves, 1 muffin: 3.5·5 + 2.5·1 = 17.5 + 2.5 = 20 ✗

Only 2 loaves of bread and 4 batches of muffins works.