Answer:
43 stitches.
Explanation:
We have been given that each pant's leg has an opening with a circumference of 8.5 inches. It took 15 stitches to make 3 inches in width. We are asked to find the number of stitches required to make up the circumference.
Let us find stitches needed to make 1 inch by dividing 15 by 3.
![\text{Stitches needed to make 1 inch}=(15)/(3)](https://img.qammunity.org/2021/formulas/mathematics/high-school/5sk0us8mmp8gr228k3qf63vzqb3lyx2jo0.png)
![\text{Stitches needed to make 1 inch}=5](https://img.qammunity.org/2021/formulas/mathematics/high-school/647jemvw4izwj0lhwk4mie35sm2t9pkg5x.png)
Since 5 stitches make 1 inch, so to find stitches needed to make 8.5 inches, we will multiply 8.5 by 5 as:
![\text{Stitches needed to make 8.5 inches}=5* 8.5](https://img.qammunity.org/2021/formulas/mathematics/high-school/pca1srmpw7fcxam6n8lb65b33jhry27ezp.png)
![\text{Stitches needed to make 8.5 inches}=42.5](https://img.qammunity.org/2021/formulas/mathematics/high-school/mipycnmh8xyh32g287dyde55cf2qh39wco.png)
Upon rounding to nearest stitch, we will get:
![\text{Stitches needed to make 8.5 inches}\approx 43](https://img.qammunity.org/2021/formulas/mathematics/high-school/goobltzl63v2y2l4kxkogx2o1ejgk3iohp.png)
Therefore, 43 stitches will make up the circumference.