The table below shows the amount of money needed to buy certain amounts of fabric.

Fabric Cost
Fabric
(yards)
Total Cost
(dollars)
3
5
6
10
9
15
12
?

If the price is the same for each yard, how much money would 12 yards of fabric cost?
18 dollars
20 dollars
24 dollars
25 dollars

1 answer

To determine the cost of 12 yards of fabric, we first need to analyze the pattern from the given table of fabric costs.

From the data provided:

  • 3 yards cost 5 dollars.
  • 5 yards cost 10 dollars.
  • 6 yards cost 9 dollars.
  • 10 yards cost 15 dollars.
  • 9 yards cost 15 dollars.

Let's calculate the cost per yard for the known quantities:

  1. For 3 yards at 5 dollars:
    Cost per yard = 5 / 3 ≈ 1.67 dollars/yard

  2. For 5 yards at 10 dollars:
    Cost per yard = 10 / 5 = 2 dollars/yard

  3. For 6 yards at 9 dollars:
    Cost per yard = 9 / 6 = 1.5 dollars/yard

  4. For 10 yards at 15 dollars:
    Cost per yard = 15 / 10 = 1.5 dollars/yard

  5. For 9 yards at 15 dollars:
    Cost per yard = 15 / 9 ≈ 1.67 dollars/yard

It appears that there are different prices from the samples provided, and we need to determine the cost for 12 yards.

To find a reasonable estimate, let's assume that the cost per yard stabilizes around the average of the previous costs identified.

Calculating average prices:

  • From the data above:
    • 5 / 3 = 1.67
    • 10 / 5 = 2
    • 9 / 6 = 1.5
    • 15 / 10 = 1.5
    • 15 / 9 = 1.67

The average seems to cluster around an estimate of 1.5 to 2 dollars per yard.

Now let’s calculate the cost of 12 yards at both prices.

If cost is 1.5 dollars/yard:
Cost for 12 yards = 12 * 1.5 = 18 dollars

If cost is 2 dollars/yard:
Cost for 12 yards = 12 * 2 = 24 dollars

Looking at the options provided:

  1. 18 dollars
  2. 20 dollars
  3. 24 dollars
  4. 25 dollars

There are two possible answers, but considering the deduction:

Based on the cost calculations and the average price, the best conclusion is that the cost for 12 yards of fabric is 24 dollars.