Question

I was at the store, and saw two sizes of avocados being sold. The regular size sold for $0.84 each. For what prices would the larger avocado be a better deal?

Answer 1

The better deal cannot be decided as we were not the weights of the 2 avocados. However, we assume they are x is the price of the larger avocado and y the weight of the larger avocado. Therefore we calculate the price per pound of the larger avocado which is x/y. The weight of the smaller avocado is called z while the price od the smaller / regular avocado is $0.84.The price per pound of the smaller / regular avocado is calculated as 0.84/z. Therefore x/y<0.84/z will make buying the longer avocado a better deal. Also, x/y>0.84/z will make buying the smaller/ regular avocado a better deal.

Explanation:

The better deal cannot be decided as we were not the weights of the 2 avocados. However, we assume they are x is the price of the larger avocado and y the weight of the larger avocado. Therefore we calculate the price per pound of the larger avocado which is x/y. The weight of the smaller avocado is called z while the price od the smaller / regular avocado is $0.84.The price per pound of the smaller / regular avocado is calculated as 0.84/z. Therefore x/y<0.84/z will make buying the longer avocado a better deal. Also, x/y>0.84/z will make buying the smaller/ regular avocado a better deal.

Answer 2

The bigger avocado will be a better deal if the ratio of the sizes of the bigger one to the smaller one is less than the ratio of the prices of the bigger one to the smaller one.

Explanation:

Given that two sizea of avocados are being sold, since the regular size is being sold for $0.84 each, let the price for the bigger avocado be $x.

Then note the following:

1. How bigger than the smaller avocado is the bigger one?

This would determine if the price for the bigger one is a bargain, or a mistake.

If for instance, the bigger avocado is double the size of the smaller one, then for any price, $x less that $1.68 (twice of $0.84), it is a bargain.

The bigger avocado will be a better deal if the ratio of the sizes bigger one to the smaller one is less than the ratio of the prices of the bigger one to the smaller one.