Final Answer:
The food service operation produces approximately 9.7 meals per labor hour by dividing 7000 meals in a 40-hour work week by 18 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees. Thus the correct option is c.
Step-by-step explanation:
Calculate Total Labor Hours
The number of Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) employees is given as 18, and they work for 40 hours per week. To determine the total labor hours, multiply the number of FTEs by the hours worked per week:
18 FTEs * 40 hours/week = 720 total labor hours.
Calculate Meals Produced per Labor Hour
The food service operation produces 7000 meals within the 40-hour work week. To find the meals per labor hour, divide the total meals produced by the total labor hours:
7000 meals / 720 labor hours ≈ 9.72 meals per labor hour.
Round the Result
Rounded to one decimal place, the meals produced per labor hour is approximately 9.7. Therefore, the correct answer is c. 9.7 meals per labor hour, as it's the closest option to the calculated value when rounded to one decimal place, showcasing the efficiency of the operation in producing meals per labor hour.
Therefore, the correct option is d.