Final answer:
To find the number of medium-sized socks, we need to calculate the number of socks in each size category using the given ratio. The number of medium-sized socks is approximately 115.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the number of medium-sized socks, we need to calculate the number of socks in each size category. Let's assume the ratio of small, medium, large, and extra-large socks is 3x:5x:2x:1x, where x is a common factor. Adding up the ratios gives us a total of 3x + 5x + 2x + 1x = 11x. We are given that the total inventory is 253, so we can set up the equation 11x = 253 and solve for x.
11x = 253
x = 253/11
x ≈ 23
Now, we can find the number of medium-sized socks.
Number of medium-sized socks = 5x ≈ 5 * 23 = 115