In an hour, Mateo can wash 2 cars or mow 1 lawn, and Sophia can wash 3 cars or mow 1 lawn. Who has the absolute advantage in car washing, and who has the absolute advantage in lawn mowing?

Question

a. Sophia in washing, neither in mowing
b. Mateo in washing, Sophia in mowing
c. Mateo in washing, neither in mowing
d. Sophia in washing, Mateo in mowing

Answer 1

To determine who has the absolute advantage in car washing and lawn mowing, we need to compare the outputs of Mateo and Sophia in both tasks within the same time frame (one hour).

1. Car Washing:
   • Mateo can wash 2 cars in one hour.
   • Sophia can wash 3 cars in one hour.

Since Sophia can wash more cars than Mateo in the same amount of time, she has the absolute advantage in car washing.

2. Lawn Mowing:
   • Mateo can mow 1 lawn in one hour.
   • Sophia can mow 1 lawn in one hour.

Both Mateo and Sophia can mow the same number of lawns in one hour (1 lawn), meaning neither of them has the absolute advantage in mowing since they can perform the task equally well.

Based on this analysis, the correct answer is: a. Sophia in washing, neither in mowing.