Question

At a grocery store, almonds cost $5.99 per pound. In a relation, the input is the number of pounds of almonds, and the output is the cost.

Is this relation a function? Why or why not?

A) Yes, because almonds can cost different amounts.
B) Yes, because one input (number of pounds of almonds) will always have the same output (cost).
C) No, because almonds always cost $5.99 per pound.
D) No, because different inputs (numbers of pounds of almonds) will have different outputs (costs).

Answer 1

The relation between pounds of almonds and the cost is a function because each quantity of almonds has a single, specific cost associated with it.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks if the relation between the number of pounds of almonds and the cost at a grocery store is a function. A function is a relation in which each input has exactly one output. In this case, for every pound of almonds, there is a specific cost associated with it. If almonds cost $5.99 per pound, then buying 1 pound will cost you $5.99, buying 2 pounds will cost you $11.98, and so on. The cost can be determined uniquely by the number of pounds you decide to purchase.

Therefore, the correct answer to whether this relation is a function is:
B) Yes, because one input (number of pounds of almonds) will always have the same output (cost).