In the United States, a person eats more than 40,000 pounds of bread in a lifetime if they live to be 80 years old. Does this statement make sense or is it nonsense? Explain.
Answer (2)
Look at some shorter periods of time to decide whether their reasonable. Do that by simplifying the fraction. . . . . 40,000 pounds / 80 years = 4,000 pounds / 8 years = 2,000 pounds (1 ton) / 4 years = 1,000 pounds / 2 years (have you decided yet ? Well, simplify it some more) 1,000 pounds / 2 years = 500 pounds per year = almost 1 and 1/2 pounds of bread every day of your life. NOW what do you think ? Make sense ?
The statement about a person eating over 40,000 pounds of bread in 80 years is mathematically sound. This averages to about 500 pounds per year or approximately 1.37 pounds per day, which is a reasonable amount. Therefore, the statement makes sense.
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