Question

In the United States, a person eats more than 40,000 pounds of bread in a lifetime if she or he lives to be 80 years old. Does this statement make sense or is it nonsense? Explain.

Answer 1

Look at some shorter periods of time to decide whether their reasonable. Do that by simplifying the fraction. . . . . 40,000 pounds / 80 years = 4,000 pounds / 8 years = 2,000 pounds (1 ton) / 4 years = 1,000 pounds / 2 years (have you decided yet ? Well, simplify it some more) 1,000 pounds / 2 years = 500 pounds per year = almost 1 and 1/2 pounds of bread every day of your life. NOW what do you think ? Make sense ?