At a farmers market, the price \(P\), in dollars, of organic apples is proportional to the weight \(w\), in pounds. A \(2.5\)-pound bag costs \(\$6.25\).
1. Find the price per pound and write an equation for price as a function of weight.
2. Make a value table for \(1\), \(2\), \(3\), and \(4\) pounds.
3. Describe the graph of the function with weight on the x-axis and price on the y-axis. Use \(1\) grid unit per pound on the x-axis and \(2\) dollars per grid unit on the y-axis, and name at least three points on the line.
4. Use the graph's linear pattern to estimate the cost of \(3.5\) pounds and the weight that costs \(\$5.00\). Then verify both values by calculation.
Hints
- First find the price of one pound.
- A proportional relationship graphs as a line through the origin.
- Multiply each weight by the unit price to complete the table.
- Use horizontal and vertical guide lines when reading values from a graph.
Solution
1. The unit price is \(6.25\div 2.5=\$2.50\) per pound, so \(P(w)=2.5w\).
2. The prices for \(1\), \(2\), \(3\), and \(4\) pounds are \(\$2.50\), \(\$5.00\), \(\$7.50\), and \(\$10.00\).
3. Using the required scales, the graph is a line through \((0, 0)\), \((2, 5)\), and \((4, 10)\).
4. From the graph, estimate that \(3.5\) pounds costs about \(\$8.75\), and that \(\$5.00\) buys about \(2\) pounds. Verify: \(2.5\cdot 3.5=8.75\) and \(5.00\div 2.5=2\).
Answer
1. \(\$2.50\) per pound; \(P(w)=2.5w\).
2. <table>
<tr><th>Weight</th><td>\(1\,\text{lb}\)</td><td>\(2\,\text{lb}\)</td><td>\(3\,\text{lb}\)</td><td>\(4\,\text{lb}\)</td></tr>
<tr><th>Price</th><td>\(\$2.50\)</td><td>\(\$5.00\)</td><td>\(\$7.50\)</td><td>\(\$10.00\)</td></tr>
</table>
3. A line through \((0, 0)\), \((2, 5)\), and \((4, 10)\), using \(1\) grid unit per pound and \(\$2\) per vertical grid unit.
4. The graph gives approximately \(\$8.75\) for \(3.5\) pounds and approximately \(2\) pounds for \(\$5.00\); calculation verifies both values exactly.