PrepTest 155 · Section 2 · Question 2

The Great Cupcake Budget Battle

Frankie and Sharon are planning the class bake sale. Frankie slaps a flyer on the desk. "Store cupcakes cost less per cupcake than the flour, eggs, and frosting we buy to bake our own. So we'd save money by buying them!" Sharon flips open her notebook. "I checked the last three bake sales. The classes that bought cupcakes spent way more in total than the classes that baked." Lulu writes on her clipboard: Frankie says buying saves money. Sharon says buying cost more. Ms. Rivera peeks over. "Notice that Sharon never argues about the price of one cupcake. She just goes straight for the bottom line." Biscuit, under the table, votes for whichever plan drops the most crumbs.

Frankie: Store cupcakes cost less per cupcake than our baking supplies do, so the class would save money by buying cupcakes instead of baking. Sharon: Records from past bake sales show that classes that bought cupcakes spent more in total than classes that baked.

Frankie and Sharon disagree about which one of the following?

The Case of the Rented Ponies

Mr. Whitfield faced a rival lawyer in a dispute over a county fair. The rival declared, "Renting ponies costs less per hour than feeding the fair's own ponies. So renting would save the fair money." Mr. Whitfield held up a ledger. "Your Honor, I looked at every fair that rented ponies. On average, they spent much more than fairs that kept their own." The judge leaned back. "Counsel, you two are not fighting over the hourly price. One of you says renting saves money; the other says it does not. That is the real question in front of me." A pony outside whinnied, as if it had an opinion too.