Final answer:
The cost of 24 pounds of onions would be $192, calculated by finding the cost per pound ($8 per pound) from the given 4 pounds of onions for $32 and then multiplying the cost per pound by 24 pounds.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cost of 4 pounds of onions is given as $32. To find out the cost for 24 pounds, we will set up a proportion since the number of pounds and cost are directly proportional. This means that if the weight increases, the cost increases at the same rate.
To set up our proportion, we can say that 4 pounds correspond to $32, so 1 pound would cost $32 divided by 4, which is $8 per pound. Now, to find the cost of 24 pounds, we simply multiply the cost per pound by 24:
$8 (cost per pound)
x 24 (number of pounds)
= $192
Therefore, 24 pounds of onions would cost $192.