A consumer needs to purchase at least 60 soft drinks for a picnic.

Soft Drinks Orange
Two 24-packs for $20; one 24-pack for $15

Root Beer

One 24-pack for $18

Cream Soda

One 12-pack for $10

A consumer needs to purchase at least 60 soft drinks for a picnic.

Which of the following combinations is the most cost-effective?

A.
2 packs of Orange and 1 pack of Cream Soda

B.
3 one 24-pack of Orange

C.
2 packs of Root Beer and 1 pack of Cream Soda

D.
5 packs of cream Soda

The Correct answer and Explanation is:

To determine the most cost-effective combination of soft drinks for the consumer who needs to purchase at least 60 soft drinks, we’ll calculate the total cost and number of drinks provided by each option and then identify the cheapest option per drink.

Price and Drink Breakdown

1. Orange Soft Drinks

  • Two 24-packs: $20
  • One 24-pack: $15
  • Cost per drink:
    • Two 24-packs: $20 / (24 + 24) = $20 / 48 = $0.4167 per drink
    • One 24-pack: $15 / 24 = $0.625 per drink

2. Root Beer

  • One 24-pack: $18
  • Cost per drink: $18 / 24 = $0.75 per drink

3. Cream Soda

  • One 12-pack: $10
  • Cost per drink: $10 / 12 = $0.8333 per drink

Option Breakdown

Option A: 2 packs of Orange and 1 pack of Cream Soda

  • Drinks: (2 × 24) + 12 = 48 + 12 = 60 drinks
  • Cost: (2 × $20) + $10 = $40 + $10 = $50
  • Cost per drink: $50 / 60 = $0.8333

Option B: 3 one 24-packs of Orange

  • Drinks: 3 × 24 = 72 drinks
  • Cost: 3 × $15 = $45
  • Cost per drink: $45 / 72 = $0.625

Option C: 2 packs of Root Beer and 1 pack of Cream Soda

  • Drinks: (2 × 24) + 12 = 48 + 12 = 60 drinks
  • Cost: (2 × $18) + $10 = $36 + $10 = $46
  • Cost per drink: $46 / 60 = $0.7667

Option D: 5 packs of Cream Soda

  • Drinks: 5 × 12 = 60 drinks
  • Cost: 5 × $10 = $50
  • Cost per drink: $50 / 60 = $0.8333

Conclusion

Option B: 3 one 24-packs of Orange is the most cost-effective choice, with a total cost of $45 and a cost per drink of $0.625. It provides the lowest cost per drink compared to the other options, making it the best choice for purchasing at least 60 soft drinks at the lowest cost.

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