Question

A paper store sells two kinds of wrapping paper. Package A costs $5.25 and has 6 rolls, each 2 ft by 5 ft. Package B costs $7 and has 4 rolls, each 4 ft by 6 ft. Which package is the better buy?

Answer 1

To determine which package is the better buy, compare the cost per square foot. Package B is the better buy as it has a lower cost per square foot.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine which package is the better buy, we need to compare the cost per square foot of wrapping paper in each package.

Package A contains 6 rolls, each measuring 2 ft by 5 ft. So the total area of one roll is 2 ft x 5 ft = 10 square feet. Since Package A has 6 rolls, the total area of wrapping paper is 10 sq ft/roll x 6 rolls = 60 square feet. Therefore, the cost per square foot for Package A is $5.25/60 sq ft = $0.0875/sq ft.

Package B contains 4 rolls, each measuring 4 ft by 6 ft. So the total area of one roll is 4 ft x 6 ft = 24 square feet. Since Package B has 4 rolls, the total area of wrapping paper is 24 sq ft/roll x 4 rolls = 96 square feet. Therefore, the cost per square foot for Package B is $7/96 sq ft = $0.0729/sq ft.

Comparing the cost per square foot, Package B is the better buy as it has a lower cost per square foot.