Question

Two local supermarkets sell watermelons grown at McDowell’s farm. But Biggy Market sells their watermelons for $3.99 each, regardless of size, whereas Harmless Trail Market sells their watermelons for $0.19 per pound. For what weight will a watermelon at Harmless Trail cost the same as any watermelon at Biggy? If the largest watermelon grown at McDowell’s farm weighs 18 pounds, at which place should you buy your watermelons?

Answer 1

1).For a watermelon weighing 21 pounds, cost will be same at both the markets.

2). Watermelon weighing 18 pounds should be purchased at Harmless Trail.

Explanation:

Let the weight of a watermelon sold by Biggy market = x pounds

Cost of the watermelon = $3.99

Cost of same watermelon at Harmless Trail market = $0.19x

If the cost of watermelon in both the markets are same,

0.19x = 3.99

x =
`(3.99)/(0.19)`

x = 21 pounds

Therefore, for a watermelon weighing 21 pounds, cost will be same at both the markets.

If the largest watermelon weighs 18 pounds,

Cost at Biggy = $3.99

And cost at the Harmless Trail = 18×0.19 = $3.42

Therefore, watermelon weighing 18 pounds should be purchased at Harmless Trail.