31. A baker is using a cookie recipe that calls for 2 1/4 cups of flour to yield 36 cookies. How much flour will the baker need to make 90 cookies using the same recipe?
Answer: C
The baker will need 5 5/8 cups of flour to make 90 cookies.
To determine the amount of flour needed for 90 cookies, we first find the flour needed per cookie, then scale it up to the desired quantity. Since 2 1/4 cups of flour yield 36 cookies, the baker will need 5 5/8 cups for 90 cookies.
A) 6 1/4 cups
This option is incorrect as it overestimates the amount of flour needed. Using a calculation based on the yield of 36 cookies, 6 1/4 cups does not conform to the scaling needed for 90 cookies.
B) 4 3/4 cups
This option is also incorrect because it underestimates the amount of flour required. The calculation shows that 4 3/4 cups would not provide enough flour to yield 90 cookies based on the original recipe.
C) 5 5/8 cups
This is the correct answer. To find the flour needed for 90 cookies, we calculate the ratio of flour to cookies: (2 1/4 cups / 36 cookies) multiplied by 90 cookies equals 5 5/8 cups.
D) 10 1/8 cups
This option is incorrect as it significantly overestimates the quantity of flour needed. The calculation shows that 10 1/8 cups is much more than what is necessary to yield 90 cookies based on the original recipe.
Conclusion
The calculation for the correct amount of flour needed for 90 cookies confirms that 5 5/8 cups is accurate based on the original yield of the recipe. The other options either undercut or exceed the required amount, demonstrating that they do not accurately reflect the proportional relationship established in the recipe.