how many sundaes? algebra question

Question

Im having issues figuring out where to begin with this problem. All Ive done is convert the ice cream amounts to scoops. Thanks for your help.

An ice cream shop is having a special "Ice Cream Sunday" event in which they are giving away giant mixed sundaes of 3 scoops vanilla ice cream and 2 scoops of chocolate. If they have 24 gallons of chocolate and 36 gallons of vanilla to start with, determine how many sundaes they will have made when they ran out of ice cream. For this problem, we assume a gallon = 20 scoops.

Answer 1

Sundaes with chocolate:

(24)(20) / 2 = 240

Sundaes with vanilla:

(36)(20) / 2 = 240

 

Two hundred forty "specials" can be made.

Answer 2

 

A giant mixed sundaes of 3 scoops vanilla ice cream and 2 scoops of chocolate.

 

For this problem, we assume a gallon = 20 scoops.

 

24 gallons chocolate * 20 scoops = 480 scoops

36 gallons vanilla * 20 scoops = 720 scoops

 

Dividing 480 scoops chocolate by 2 scoops per sundae will tell you how many sundaes you can make from the chocolate.

 

480 scoops chocolate / 2 scoops chocolate per sundae = 240 sundaes

 

Dividing 720 scoops vanilla by 3 scoops vanilla per sundae will tell you how many sundaes you can make from the vanilla.

 

720 scoops vanilla / 3 scoops vanilla per sundae = 240 sundaes

 

It's good to check both incase you have less of one of the other, you would go with the lesser value and assume extra of one flavor. In this case, you have exactly enough for 240 sundaes.