The chart below shows the economic cost of two school lunch options.

\begin{tabular}{|l|r|r|}
\hline \multicolumn{3}{|c|}{Economic Cost per Lunch} \\
\hline & \begin{tabular}{c}
Current \\
lunch
\end{tabular} & \begin{tabular}{c}
Healthier \\
lunch
\end{tabular} \\
\hline Main course & \[tex]$1.15 & \$[/tex]1.85 \\
\hline Side dish & \[tex]$0.30 & \$[/tex]0.90 \\
\hline Dessert & \[tex]$0.30 & \$[/tex]0.10 \\
\hline Beverage & \[tex]$0.30 & \$[/tex]0.05 \\
\hline Total & \[tex]$2.05 & \$[/tex]2.80 \\
\hline
\end{tabular}

What is the most likely explanation for why the healthier lunch costs more?

A. The healthier lunch is more expensive because it helps to reduce childhood obesity.
B. The healthier lunch is more expensive because its beverage costs more.
C. The healthier lunch is more expensive because its dessert costs more.
D. The healthier lunch is more expensive because it uses better-quality ingredients.



Answer :

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. Understand the Total Costs:
- The cost for the current lunch is [tex]$2.05. - The cost for the healthier lunch is $[/tex]2.80.

2. Determine the Cost Difference:
- The healthier lunch is more expensive by \[tex]$2.80 - \$[/tex]2.05 = \[tex]$0.75. 3. Break Down Individual Component Costs: - For the Main course: Current lunch costs \$[/tex]1.15, and the healthier lunch costs \[tex]$1.85. The difference is \$[/tex]1.85 - \[tex]$1.15 = \$[/tex]0.70.
- For the Side dish: Current lunch costs \[tex]$0.30, and the healthier lunch costs \$[/tex]0.90. The difference is \[tex]$0.90 - \$[/tex]0.30 = \[tex]$0.60. - For the Dessert: Current lunch costs \$[/tex]0.30, and the healthier lunch costs \[tex]$0.10. The difference is \$[/tex]0.10 - \[tex]$0.30 = -\$[/tex]0.20 (the healthier dessert is cheaper).
- For the Beverage: Current lunch costs \[tex]$0.30, and the healthier lunch costs \$[/tex]0.05. The difference is \[tex]$0.05 - \$[/tex]0.30 = -\[tex]$0.25 (the healthier beverage is cheaper). 4. Analyze the Cost Differences: - The healthier main course is \$[/tex]0.70 more expensive.
- The healthier side dish is \[tex]$0.60 more expensive. - The healthier dessert is \$[/tex]0.20 cheaper.
- The healthier beverage is \[tex]$0.25 cheaper. 5. Identify the Most Expensive Component: - The Main course has the largest positive cost difference (\$[/tex]0.70).

6. Evaluate Explanation Options:
- The healthier lunch does not cost more because its beverage costs more (in fact, the beverage is cheaper).
- The healthier lunch does not cost more because its dessert costs more (in fact, the dessert is cheaper).
- Although healthier meals can be linked to reducing childhood obesity, this statement does not directly explain the cost difference.
- The healthier lunch is indeed more expensive overall, and the most likely reason is that it uses better-quality ingredients, which is reflected predominantly in the cost of the main course and side dish.

### Conclusion:
The healthier lunch costs more because it uses better-quality ingredients. This is evidenced by the significant cost difference in the main course and side dish.