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.
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.
