Question

Elvira is comparing prices between two different suppliers of fresh lettuce. Val’s Veggies charges $250 for delivery plus $1.50 per bag of lettuce. Sally’s Salads charges $100 for delivery plus $4.00 per bag of lettuce. How many bags of lettuce must be purchased for Val’s Veggies to be the cheaper option?

Answer 1

61 bags of lettuce

Explanation:

Let's create two equations representing the cost of bags of lettuce:

Val's Veggies: 250 + 1.50x = V

Sally's Salads: 100 + 4.00x = S

If you buy 60 bags of lettuce from either store, the answers will be equivalent:

If x = 60

250 + 1.50x = V

250 + 90 = V

340 = V

100 + 4.00x = S

100 + 240 = S

340 = S

Now that both equations are equivalent, all we need to do to tip the balance and make Val's Veggies cheaper is purchase one more bag of lettuce:

x = 61

250 + 1.50x = V

250 + 91.50 = V

341.50 = V

100 + 4.00x = S

100 + 244 = S

344 = S

Since V represents the price of a bag of lettuce at Val's Veggies and V is now less than S (Sally's Salads), Val's Veggies is now the cheaper option.

Therefore, 61 bags of lettuce must be purchased in order for Val's Veggies to be the cheaper option.