Unraveling the Simple but Confusing Grapefruit Cost Calculation

The mysterious question of how much 60 grapefruits would cost when 6 grapefruits cost 5 dollars can be both intriguing and perplexing. This seemingly simple math problem, which has appeared on the Querra platform, often leaves people puzzled. Are there hidden twists or tricks in the question? Let's delve into the details and understand the straightforward solution behind it.

Simple Breakdown of the Cost Calculation

When faced with the question of how much 60 grapefruits would cost given that 6 grapefruits cost 5 dollars, the most intuitive approach is to use a simple multiplication strategy. This involves recognizing a few fundamental concepts: How many sets of 6 grapefruits are there in 60 grapefruits? How many times do we need to repeat the cost of 6 grapefruits? Let's break this down step-by-step.

Dividing the Grapefruits into Sets

The first step is to divide 60 grapefruits by 6 grapefruits:

60 grapefruits ÷ 6 grapefruits 10 sets of 6 grapefruits.

This means we need to multiply the cost of 6 grapefruits by 10. If 6 grapefruits cost 5 dollars, then the cost of 10 sets of 6 grapefruits would be:

10 × 5 dollars 50 dollars.

Thus, the cost of 60 grapefruits is 50 dollars.

Alternative Approach: Unit Cost Method

Another method to solve this problem is by finding the unit cost and then multiplying it by 60. The unit cost is the cost of one grapefruit. To find this, we divide the total cost of 6 grapefruits by 6:

5 dollars ÷ 6 grapefruits 0.8333333... dollars per grapefruit (0.8333333... 5/6 dollars per grapefruit).

Now, to find the cost of 60 grapefruits, we multiply the unit cost by 60:

0.8333333... × 60 grapefruits 50 dollars.

This confirms our previous answer using a different approach.

Reflection on the Question

Is there a twist to this question? On the surface, the answer appears straightforward, but sometimes such simple problems can be designed to test logical reasoning and attention to detail. It’s possible that the question was intended to probe if the respondent would recognize the direct relationship between the quantity and cost. However, based on the given information, the answer is consistently 50 dollars.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In summary, the cost of 60 grapefruits, given that 6 grapefruits cost 5 dollars, is 50 dollars. Whether you use the simple multiplication method or the unit cost approach, the answer remains the same. This problem serves as a good example of how seemingly simple math problems can sometimes be more complex than they appear at first glance. The key is to recognize the direct relationship between the sets of grapefruits and their costs.