If the yield from whole strawberries is 91%, how many pounds of whole strawberries are required to yield 1.5 pounds prepared?

If the yield from whole strawberries is 91%, how many pounds of whole strawberries are required to yield 1.5 pounds prepared?

• A. 1.65
• B. 1.50
• C. 1.75
• D. 1.90

Answer: (A)

To determine how much whole fruit is needed to get a certain amount prepared, use the inverse of the yield. If 91% of the whole strawberries become prepared, the required amount of whole strawberries equals the desired prepared amount divided by 0.91. So, 1.5 divided by 0.91 equals about 1.648 pounds, which rounds to 1.65 pounds. Therefore, about 1.65 pounds of whole strawberries are needed to yield 1.5 pounds prepared. If you used 1.50 pounds, you’d get 1.50 × 0.91 ≈ 1.365 pounds prepared, which is short of 1.5. Using 1.75 pounds would yield 1.75 × 0.91 ≈ 1.593 pounds prepared, which overshoots. The calculation shows why 1.65 is the correct amount.

To determine how much whole fruit is needed to get a certain amount prepared, use the inverse of the yield. If 91% of the whole strawberries become prepared, the required amount of whole strawberries equals the desired prepared amount divided by 0.91.

So, 1.5 divided by 0.91 equals about 1.648 pounds, which rounds to 1.65 pounds. Therefore, about 1.65 pounds of whole strawberries are needed to yield 1.5 pounds prepared.

If you used 1.50 pounds, you’d get 1.50 × 0.91 ≈ 1.365 pounds prepared, which is short of 1.5. Using 1.75 pounds would yield 1.75 × 0.91 ≈ 1.593 pounds prepared, which overshoots. The calculation shows why 1.65 is the correct amount.