Final answer:
To solve for the amount of bread needed for 16 men in 15 days, we use direct proportion based on the given rate of consumption. We find that each man consumes 7/20 pounds of bread per day, resulting in a total of 84 pounds needed for all 16 men over the 15 days.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the amount of bread needed for 16 men in 15 days, we need to set up a proportion based on the given information that 4 men in 5 days eat 7 pounds of bread. The calculation involves a direct proportion since the increase in the number of men or days will proportionally increase the amount of bread needed. Here's how we can solve this:
First, determine the daily consumption for 1 man by dividing the total bread consumed by the number of men and the number of days: 7 pounds ÷ (4 men × 5 days) = 7/20 pounds per man per day.
Multiply the daily consumption per man by the number of men and the number of days required: (7/20) × (16 men × 15 days) = 7/20 × 240 = 84 pounds of bread.
Therefore, 84 pounds of bread would be sufficient for 16 men over the course of 15 days.