Final answer:
To determine when a candy machine will be close to empty, a function describing the relationship between the number of customers and the amount of candy remaining can be established. Once this function is created, solving for the point at which the candy quantity is close to zero would give the estimated number of customers required to empty the machine.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question at hand relates to determining when a candy machine will be close to empty, which is essentially asking to calculate when the machine will run out of candy given the rate at which customers purchase from it. This can be addressed using mathematical models such as variables, constants, equations, and functions.
If we have information such as the average time between two successive customer arrivals and the initial quantity of candy in the machine, we could use a function to model the rate at which candy is being purchased and estimate when the machine would likely be empty. Constants in this scenario could include factors like the amount of candy dispensed per purchase, while variables could be the number of customers or the time elapsed. An equation could tie these elements together to solve for the number of customers it will take to empty the machine.
To specifically answer the question posed, we would need to establish a function that represents the relationship between the number of customers and the amount of candy remaining. Once this function is created, solving for the point at which the candy quantity is close to zero would give us the desired estimate.