How much potato salad is needed to serve 52 people?

Question

If 3 lbs. of potato salad serves 10 people, write an equation that can be used to determine the amount of potato salad needed to serve 52 people.

Answer 1

First we should solve how many pounds of potato salad it takes to feed one person.  In this case we know 3 pounds feeds 10 people.  If we divide 3 pounds by 10 people we get 0.3 pounds of potato salad per person.  If X is number of people and Y is the pounds of potato salad Y=(0.3 pounds per person)(X).  

 

To find the amount of potato salad for 52 people we can solve Y=(0.3 pounds per person)(52 people).

Y=15.6 pounds of potato salad

Answer 2

Solve this as a proportion.

 

3 lbs → 10 people

x lbs → 52 people

 

Cross multiply to get

 

x = (3 lbs)(52 people) / (10 people) = 15.6 lbs