Question

Using p as the variable for the problem below, solve for p. Submit your answer

as an inequality, using "<=" for < or ">" for ≥ if necessary. Round to two
decimal places.
Hosting a dinner party for 38 people, you plan to serve peach pie for dessert.
Each pie has 8 slices. How many pies must you buy to ensure each guest
gets 1 slice?

Answer 1

Explanation:

As host, we want to insure each guest has at least one slice of pie. We can say (1 Slice/Guest) and use this as a conversion factor. We also know each pie has 8 slices: (8 Slices/1 Pie). Since this is a conversion factor, we can invert it to (1 Pie/8 Slices). We expect 38 people and want to convert that number of people to the number of pies, p, we need.

p (pies)
`\geq` (38 Guests)*(1 Slice/Guest)*(1 Pie/8 Slices)

We use the
`\geq` sign to note that we need a minimum of pies to be sure everyone is served.

p (pies)
`\geq` (38 )*(1 /)*(1 Pie/8 )

Note how the units cancel:

Guests and Slices both cancel and we are left with pies as the only remaining unit, as we hoped we'd see.

p
`\geq` (38/8) pies

p = 4 +(6/8) pies

Since we cannot purchase 6/8 of a pie, we need to round up to 5 pies.

5 pies, at 8 slices per pie, will provide 40 servings, enough for the 38 guests.