A military mess hall prepares meals using a ratio of 4 pounds of potatoes for every 15 sol… — Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)

A military mess hall prepares meals using a ratio of $4$ pounds of potatoes for every $15$ soldiers. How many pounds of potatoes are needed to feed $60$ soldiers?

Answer: 16 / 16 pounds / 16 lbs / 16 lb

Answer

Since the ratio of potatoes to soldiers is constant, and the number of soldiers increases by a scale factor of

4

(from

15

60

), the pounds of potatoes must also be multiplied by

4

(

4 \times 4 = 16

Step-by-Step Solution

Set up a proportion matching pounds of potatoes to the number of soldiers.

\frac{4}{15} = \frac{x}{60}

This proportion relates the known ratio (

4

pounds for

15

soldiers) to the unknown quantity

x

for

60

soldiers.

Solve for the unknown quantity

x

x = \frac{4 \times 60}{15} = 4 \times 4 = 16

Solving the equation gives the total pounds of potatoes needed to maintain the same ratio.

Key Concept

Direct Proportions

Estimated Time:45s

Question

Answer

Step-by-Step Solution

Key Concept

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