Question

Two teams need to raise $100 each for their end-of-the-year field trips. Team A wants to sell popcorn at the Spring Fling Carnival, and Team B wants to sell cotton candy. It costs $15 to rent a popcorn machine, whereas it costs $25 to rent a cotton candy maker. The cost of additional supplies for the popcorn is $0.05 per bag, and the additional cost for the cotton candy is $0.10 per stick. Team A will sell the bags of popcorn for $0.75 each. Team B will sell the cotton candy for $0.80 per stick.

What is the least number of items Team B needs to sell to avoid losing money? HELP PLEASE explain

Answer 1

We can start by finding the total cost for each team and then comparing it to the total earnings to determine if they will make a profit or not.

For Team A, the cost of supplies is 0.05 * Number of bags, and the total earnings are 0.75 * Number of bags. The number of bags they need to sell to break even is the solution to the equation:

0.05 * Number of bags + 15 = 0.75 * Number of bags

Solving for Number of bags:

0.75 * Number of bags - 0.05 * Number of bags = 15

0.70 * Number of bags = 15

Number of bags = 15 / 0.70

Number of bags = 21.43

So, Team A needs to sell at least 22 bags of popcorn to break even.

For Team B, the cost of supplies is 0.10 * Number of sticks, and the total earnings are 0.80 * Number of sticks. The number of sticks they need to sell to break even is the solution to the equation:

0.10 * Number of sticks + 25 = 0.80 * Number of sticks

Solving for Number of sticks:

0.80 * Number of sticks - 0.10 * Number of sticks = 25

0.70 * Number of sticks = 25

Number of sticks = 25 / 0.70

Number of sticks = 35.71

So, Team B needs to sell at least 36 sticks of cotton candy to break even.