The chart below shows the economic costs of two school lunches.
| | Current lunch | Healthier lunch |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Main course | $1.15 | $1.85 |
| Side dish | $0.30 | $0.90 |
| Dessert | $0.30 | $0.10 |
| Beverage | $0.30 | $0.05 |
| Total | $2.05 | $2.80 |
The smallest price difference between the two lunches is found in the
A. beverage.
B. main course.
C. dessert.
D. side dish.
Answer (2)
Calculate the price difference for each category: main course, side dish, dessert, and beverage.
Take the absolute value of each price difference to find the magnitude of the difference.
Compare the absolute price differences to identify the smallest one.
The smallest price difference is $0.20 , which corresponds to the dessert, so the answer is dessert.
Explanation
Understanding the Problem We are given a table that shows the economic costs of two school lunches, a current lunch and a healthier lunch. The costs are broken down into four categories: main course, side dish, dessert, and beverage. Our goal is to find the category with the smallest price difference between the two lunches.
Calculating Price Differences To find the smallest price difference, we need to calculate the price difference for each category. The price difference is calculated by subtracting the cost of the current lunch from the cost of the healthier lunch. We then take the absolute value of the difference to determine the magnitude of the price difference, regardless of whether the healthier lunch is more or less expensive.
Price Differences Let's calculate the price differences for each category:
Main course: $1.85 − $1.15 = $0.70 Side dish: $0.90 − $0.30 = $0.60 Dessert: $0.10 − $0.30 = − $0.20 Beverage: $0.05 − $0.30 = − $0.25
Absolute Price Differences Now, we take the absolute value of each price difference:
Main course: ∣$0.70∣ = $0.70 Side dish: ∣$0.60∣ = $0.60 Dessert: ∣ − $0.20∣ = $0.20 Beverage: ∣ − $0.25∣ = $0.25
Identifying the Smallest Difference Comparing the absolute price differences, we have:
Main course: $0.70 Side dish: $0.60 Dessert: $0.20 Beverage: $0.25
The smallest absolute price difference is $0.20 , which corresponds to the dessert.
Final Answer Therefore, the smallest price difference between the two lunches is found in the dessert.
Examples
Understanding cost differences is crucial in everyday life. For instance, when grocery shopping, comparing the prices of different brands or sizes of the same product helps you make informed decisions to save money. Similarly, when planning a trip, comparing the costs of different transportation options (e.g., train vs. plane) allows you to choose the most economical option. These skills in cost analysis are valuable for budgeting and making financially sound choices.
The smallest price difference between the two lunches is found in the dessert category, with a difference of $0.20.
;
