Baseball Game Budget: How Many Drinks Can They Afford?

by Alex Johnson 55 views

Let's figure out how many drinks Arnob, Bella, Colin, Dante, and Erin can buy at the baseball game with their $100 budget! We'll break down the costs and use a bit of math to solve this fun problem.

Understanding the Budget and Costs

First, let's recap what we know:

  • They have a total budget of $100.
  • There are 5 friends.
  • Each game ticket costs $17.50.
  • Each drink costs $2.00.

The Goal: Determine the maximum number of drinks the friends can purchase while staying within their $100 budget.

Calculating the Cost of Tickets

Since all five friends are going to the game, we need to calculate the total cost of the tickets. The cost per ticket is $17.50, and there are 5 friends, so the total ticket cost is:

5 friends * $17.50/ticket = $87.50

So, the tickets alone cost $87.50. This is an important number because it tells us how much money is left for drinks.

Determining the Remaining Budget for Drinks

Now, let's find out how much money they have left for drinks after buying the tickets. They started with a $100 budget, and the tickets cost $87.50. To find the remaining budget, we subtract the ticket cost from the total budget:

$100 (total budget) - $87.50 (ticket cost) = $12.50

This means they have $12.50 to spend on drinks. Not bad! Let's see how many drinks they can buy with that amount.

Calculating the Maximum Number of Drinks

Each drink costs $2.00, and they have $12.50 to spend. To find the maximum number of drinks they can buy, we divide the remaining budget by the cost per drink:

$12.50 (remaining budget) / $2.00/drink = 6.25 drinks

Since they can't buy a fraction of a drink, we need to round down to the nearest whole number. This means they can buy a maximum of 6 drinks.

Therefore, Arnob, Bella, Colin, Dante, and Erin can buy a maximum of 6 drinks in total while staying within their $100 budget. This calculation ensures they enjoy the baseball game without overspending. Understanding these basic calculations can help in various real-life scenarios, ensuring you stay within your budget while enjoying your favorite activities.

Setting up the Inequality

To represent this situation using an inequality, let x be the number of drinks the 5 friends could buy. The total cost of the tickets is $87.50, and the cost of the drinks is $2.00 per drink, so the inequality would be:

  1. 50 + 2x ≤ 100

This inequality states that the total cost of the tickets plus the cost of the drinks must be less than or equal to their total budget of $100. This is a mathematical way to express the constraints of their budget.

Solving the Inequality

Now, let's solve the inequality to find the maximum number of drinks they can buy. Start with the inequality:

  1. 50 + 2x ≤ 100

Subtract 87.50 from both sides:

2x ≤ 100 - 87.50

2x ≤ 12.50

Divide both sides by 2:

x ≤ 6.25

Since x represents the number of drinks, and they can't buy a fraction of a drink, we round down to the nearest whole number:

x ≤ 6

This confirms that they can buy a maximum of 6 drinks.

Distributing the Drinks

Now that we know they can buy 6 drinks, how might they distribute them? Here are a few possibilities:

  • Some friends might not want a drink, so others can have more.
  • They could share the drinks, taking sips from each.
  • They could buy fewer drinks and get something else, like a snack.

Example Scenario:

  • Arnob and Bella each get 2 drinks (2 * $2.00 * 2 = $8.00)
  • Colin and Dante decide they don't want any drinks.
  • Erin gets 2 drinks (2 * $2.00 = $4.00)

In this scenario, the total cost of the drinks is $8.00 + $4.00 = $12.00, which is less than the $12.50 they have available. This leaves them with $0.50, which they could use for a small treat or save.

Alternative Scenario: Buying Snacks

Instead of maximizing the number of drinks, they might choose to buy fewer drinks and get some snacks. Let's say they decide to buy 4 drinks instead of 6. The cost of 4 drinks would be:

4 drinks * $2.00/drink = $8.00

This leaves them with:

$12.50 (remaining budget) - $8.00 (drink cost) = $4.50

They could use this $4.50 to buy a bag of peanuts or a small snack to share. This way, they get a little variety and something to munch on during the game.

The Importance of Budgeting

This simple problem highlights the importance of budgeting, even for fun activities like going to a baseball game. By calculating the costs and understanding their spending limits, Arnob, Bella, Colin, Dante, and Erin can make informed decisions and ensure they have a great time without breaking the bank. Budgeting is a valuable skill that can be applied to many areas of life, from planning a vacation to managing personal finances.

Key Takeaways:

  • Budgeting is crucial: Knowing your budget helps you make informed decisions.
  • Calculate all costs: Consider all expenses, including tickets and refreshments.
  • Prioritize spending: Decide what's most important to you and allocate your budget accordingly.
  • Flexibility is key: Be prepared to adjust your plans based on your budget.

Conclusion

So, to wrap it up, Arnob, Bella, Colin, Dante, and Erin can enjoy their baseball game while staying within their $100 budget by making smart choices about drinks and possibly snacks. By understanding their costs and using simple math, they can maximize their fun without overspending. This exercise not only helps them plan their outing but also reinforces valuable budgeting skills that are useful in many aspects of life. Have fun at the game!

For more information on budgeting and personal finance, you can visit trusted websites like Investopedia's Budgeting Guide.