# The bake star cafe uses 2\frac{1}{4} cups of raisins to make 4 servings of trail mix. How many...

## Question:

The bake star cafe uses {eq}2\frac{1}{4} {/eq} cups of raisins to make {eq}4 {/eq} servings of trail mix.

How many cups of raisins are in each serving?

## Proportions and Variation:

In any numerical ratio, this denotes a relationship between two numbers {eq}x {/eq} and {eq}y {/eq}. On the other hand, a proportion shows the similarity between two ratios. When two variables are dependent, variations in the magnitude of one variable will have a proportional effect on the other. When there is an increase or decrease of a variable {eq}x {/eq} with respect to another {eq}y {/eq}, for a ratio or constant K, variations are present. In the case that we have a direct variation, it happens that when one variable increases the other increases, which can also be written as: {eq}\frac{{{y_1}}}{{{x_1}}} = \frac{{{y_2}}}{{{x_2}}} {/eq}.

## Answer and Explanation:

{eq}\eqalign{ & {\text{In this specific case }}{\text{,we have two proportional values }}\,x\,\left( {{\text{servings of trail mix}}} \right){\text{ }} \cr & {\text{and }}y\,\left( {{\text{cups of raisins}}} \right){\text{ that have a variation in directly proportional form}}{\text{. }} \cr & {\text{So we have:}} \cr & \,\,\,\,{x_1} = 4\,\,{\text{servings of trail mix}} \cr & \,\,\,\,{y_1} = 2\frac{1}{4} = 2.25\,\,{\text{cups of raisins}} \cr & \,\,\,\,{x_2} = 1\,\,{\text{servings of trail mix}} \cr & \,\,\,\,{y_2} = ?\,\,{\text{cups of raisins}} \cr & {\text{Since}}{\text{, }}x{\text{ and }}y{\text{ vary directly}}{\text{, then}}{\text{, when }}x{\text{ decreases it also }} \cr & {\text{decreases }}y{\text{. For this reason}}{\text{, it must be satisfied that:}} \cr & \,\,\,\,\frac{{{y_2}}}{{{x_2}}} = \frac{{{y_1}}}{{{x_1}}} \cr & {\text{So if we do cross - multiplying:}} \cr & \,\,\,\,{y_2} \cdot {x_1} = {y_1} \cdot {x_2} \cr & {\text{Now}}{\text{, solving for }}\,{y_2}{\text{:}} \cr & \,\,\,\,{y_2} = \frac{{{y_1} \cdot {x_2}}}{{{x_1}}} \cr & {\text{So}}{\text{, substituting the given values:}} \cr & \,\,\,\,{y_2} = \frac{{2.25 \times 1}}{4} = 0.5625\,{\text{cups of raisins}} \cr & {\text{Therefore}}{\text{, there are }}\boxed{0.5625\,{\text{cups of raisins}}}{\text{ in each serving}}{\text{.}} \cr} {/eq}

#### Learn more about this topic:

Ratios and Proportions: Definition and Examples

from Geometry: High School

Chapter 7 / Lesson 1
291K