Final answer:
The unit rate for 5.5 lb of hamburger for 8 people is calculated by dividing the pounds by the number of people and rounding to two decimal places, resulting in 0.69 lb/person, closely matching choice (a) 0.68 lb/person.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the unit rate of hamburger per person, you simply need to divide the total amount of hamburger by the total number of people. For 5.5 pounds of hamburger and 8 people, the calculation is 5.5 lb ÷ 8 people = 0.6875 lb/person. Since we are looking for the unit rate in a form that matches one of the choices provided, we can round this to two decimal places, making it 0.69 lb/person, which is most closely represented by choice (a) 0.68 lb/person.
Using this method of division helps us to convert customary units of measure and obtain a unit rate that is easily understandable and comparable. For instance, when Michaela buys 5 pounds of shrimp for a party and needs to know if 7 ounces per person will be enough for 10 people, she will need to convert pounds to ounces using the equivalence of 1 pound = 16 ounces and then divide to find out if she has enough shrimp.