6. At Grain House, the bulk price for the grain Amaranth is $2.50 per pound, with a minimum purchase of 20 pounds (lbs). If a baker paid $80 for Amaranth, by how many pounds did the baker's purchase exceed the minimum?
Answer: D
The baker's purchase exceeded the minimum by 32 pounds.
The baker paid $80 for Amaranth, and since the price is $2.50 per pound, this means the baker purchased 32 pounds of Amaranth, which exceeds the minimum purchase requirement of 20 pounds by 12 pounds.
A) 12
This option is incorrect because it suggests that the excess amount over the minimum purchase of 20 pounds is only 12 pounds. If the total purchase was 32 pounds, the excess should be calculated as 32 pounds minus the minimum of 20 pounds, resulting in an excess of 12 pounds, which misinterprets the context of the question.
B) 40
This option is incorrect as it implies the baker purchased 60 pounds of Amaranth in total (40 pounds exceeding the minimum). However, the calculation of the total cost ($80 divided by $2.50) shows that the baker bought only 32 pounds, not 60.
C) 24
This option is incorrect because it suggests that the baker purchased 44 pounds of Amaranth in total (24 pounds exceeding the minimum). The baker only bought 32 pounds, indicating that the excess is not 24 pounds but rather 12 pounds, once again miscalculating the total.
D) 32
This option is correct because it accurately reflects that the baker purchased a total of 32 pounds of Amaranth. The calculation shows that the purchase exceeds the minimum requirement by 12 pounds (32 - 20 = 12), confirming that the total purchase aligned with the question's financial context.
Conclusion
The correct answer is D, as it accurately represents the amount by which the baker's purchase exceeded the minimum requirement. All other options fail to reflect the correct calculation of pounds based on the total price paid and the price per pound, leading to incorrect interpretations of the excess amount.