Final answer:
To find the better buy between two packages of coffee, the unit price of each package is calculated. The 10.5-ounce package at $0.31 per ounce is a better buy than the 30.6-ounce package at $0.32 per ounce.
Step-by-step explanation:
To solve the mathematical problem completely, we need to find the unit price for each package of coffee and determine which one is the better buy. The unit price is calculated by dividing the cost of the package by the number of ounces it contains.
For the 10.5-ounce package, the unit price is $3.24 ÷ 10.5 ounces = $0.3085714286 per ounce. Rounding to the nearest cent, this is approximately $0.31 per ounce.
For the 30.6-ounce package, the unit price is $9.88 ÷ 30.6 ounces = $0.3228758169 per ounce. Rounding to the nearest cent, this is approximately $0.32 per ounce.
Comparing the unit prices, the 10.5-ounce package at $0.31 per ounce is a better buy than the 30.6-ounce package at $0.32 per ounce, as it offers a lower cost per ounce of coffee. Therefore, based on the unit prices calculated, the smaller package is the more economical choice.