16. Tom, Joel, Sarah, and Ellen divided the profits of their after-school business as shown in the circle graph. If Tom's share of the profits was $492, what was Ellen's share?
Answer: C
Ellen's share of the profits was $738.
Ellen's share of the profits can be determined by analyzing the distribution of profits as represented in the circle graph. Given that Tom's share is $492, we can calculate the total profits and subsequently determine Ellen's share as $738.
A) $246
Option A is incorrect because $246 does not align with the calculated share of Ellen based on the total profits derived from Tom's share. If Ellen's share were $246, the collective shares would not match the total profits indicated by Tom's amount.
B) $615
Option B is also incorrect. A share of $615 for Ellen does not correspond with the other shares when considering the total distribution of profits. It suggests a miscalculation of the overall profits when compared to Tom's known share.
C) $738
Option C is correct as Ellen's share is determined to be $738 after calculating the total profits based on Tom's share of $492. This option accurately reflects the expected distribution of profits among the individuals involved.
D) $820
Option D is incorrect because a share of $820 exceeds the logical distribution of profits when Tom's share is known. It indicates a total profit that is unrealistically high given the provided data.
Conclusion
Ellen's share of $738 is definitively correct, as it fits within the overall profit distribution established by Tom's known share. Other options fail to adequately represent the correct distribution of profits, leading to inconsistencies with the total amount derived from Tom's share.