To determine which store offers the lowest unit rate for cantaloupes in dollars per pound, we need to calculate the unit rate for each store.
1. Fresh Farm Unit Rate:
[tex]\[
\text{Cost} = \$4.50 \quad \text{Weight} = 5 \text{ pounds}
\][/tex]
[tex]\[
\text{Unit Rate of Fresh Farm} = \frac{\$4.50}{5 \text{ pounds}} = \$0.90 \text{ per pound}
\][/tex]
2. Fruit Garden Unit Rate:
[tex]\[
\text{Cost} = \frac{\$1}{5} \quad \text{Weight} = \frac{1}{3} \text{ pound}
\][/tex]
[tex]\[
\text{Unit Rate of Fruit Garden} = \frac{\frac{\$1}{5}}{\frac{1}{3} \text{ pound}} = \frac{1}{5} \times \frac{3}{1} = \frac{3}{5} = 0.60 \text{ dollars per pound}
\][/tex]
3. Mother Nature Unit Rate:
[tex]\[
\text{Cost} = \$4.00 \quad \text{Weight} = 5 \text{ pounds}
\][/tex]
[tex]\[
\text{Unit Rate of Mother Nature} = \frac{\$4.00}{5 \text{ pounds}} = \$0.80 \text{ per pound}
\][/tex]
4. Country Market Unit Rate:
[tex]\[
\text{Unit Rate of Country Market is directly given as} \quad \$0.85 \text{ per pound}
\][/tex]
Now, let's compare the unit rates:
- Fresh Farm: \[tex]$0.90 per pound
- Fruit Garden: \$[/tex]0.60 per pound
- Mother Nature: \[tex]$0.80 per pound
- Country Market: \$[/tex]0.85 per pound
The lowest unit rate is \$0.60 per pound, which is offered by Fruit Garden.
Hence, the grocery store that offers the lowest unit rate for cantaloupes is:
A. Fruit Garden
