To determine how much a stick of butter equates to in terms of cups, we can use commonly known cooking measurements. A standard stick of butter in the United States is generally accepted to be:
1 stick of butter = 1/2 cup
Let's break down the conversion step-by-step for clarity:
1. Butter is often packaged in 1-pound blocks, which are typically divided into 4 sticks.
2. 1 pound of butter is equivalent to 2 cups.
3. Since 1 pound (2 cups) of butter equals 4 sticks, each stick must be 1/4 of 2 cups.
4. Mathematically, we divide 2 cups by 4:
[tex]\[
\frac{2 \text{ cups}}{4 \text{ sticks}} = \frac{1 \text{ cup}}{2} = \frac{1}{2} \text{ cup per stick}
\][/tex]
Therefore, 1 stick of butter equals 1/2 cup.
The correct answer is: b. ½ cup
