Which is the better deal: 20 soccer balls for $70 or 50 soccer balls for $157?
Answer (1)
Calculate the price per soccer ball for the first option: $\frac{70}{20} = $3.50.
Calculate the price per soccer ball for the second option: $\frac{157}{50} = $3.14.
Compare the prices: $3.14 < $3.50.
The better deal is 50 soccer balls for 157 , s in ce t h e p r i ce p er ba ll i s l o w er : \boxed{ 3.14} .
Explanation
Problem Analysis We need to determine which option gives us a better price per soccer ball. To do this, we will calculate the price per ball for each option and then compare the results.
Calculating Price per Ball for Option 1 For the first option, we have 20 soccer balls for 70. T o f in d t h e p r i ce p er ba ll , w e d i v i d e t h e t o t a l cos t b y t h e n u mb ero f ba ll s : 20 70 = 3.5 $
So, each soccer ball costs $3.50 in the first option.
Calculating Price per Ball for Option 2 For the second option, we have 50 soccer balls for 157. T o f in d t h e p r i ce p er ba ll , w e d i v i d e t h e t o t a l cos t b y t h e n u mb ero f ba ll s : 50 157 = 3.14 $
So, each soccer ball costs $3.14 in the second option.
Comparing the Options Now we compare the price per ball for both options. Option 1 costs $3.50 per ball, while Option 2 costs $3.14 per ball. Since $3.14 is less than $3.50, Option 2 is the better deal.
Final Answer Therefore, buying 50 soccer balls for $157 is the better deal because the price per soccer ball is lower than buying 20 soccer balls for $70.
Examples
Imagine you are buying supplies for a soccer club. You need to purchase a large number of soccer balls, and you want to get the best possible price. By calculating the price per ball for different bulk purchase options, you can determine which deal saves you the most money. This is a practical application of comparing unit prices to make cost-effective decisions.
