Question

The cost to pick apples at two orchards is shown in an equation and with a description, where x represents the number of apples:

Orchard A

y=0.2x+3

Orchard B

Admission is $5 and apples cost $0.75 per pound.
A pound of apples contains about 3 apples. If paying the least amount is most important to you, which orchard should you use if you are going to pick 32 apples? Explain how you arrived at your answer.

(2 points)

Answer 1

First compute Orchard A: y = 0.2(32) + 3 = 6.4 + 3 = $9.40.

Orchard B: 32 apples ≈ 32/3 ≈ 10.666... pounds. Cost = $5 + $0.75*(32/3) = $5 + $8 = $13.00.
(Or note per-apple cost at B = $0.75/3 = $0.25, so total = $5 + 0.25·32 = $13.)

Since $9.40 < $13.00, choose Orchard A.