Please help math is hard!

The answer is 306



Step-by-step explanation: Given that a baker mixes pounds of sugar for every pound of butter to begin making frosting. The baker uses 357 pounds of butter and sugar to start the frosting.

9514 1404 393

  (a)  306 pounds

Step-by-step explanation:

The ratio of sugar to the total is ...

  sugar : (sugar + butter) = (2 1/4) : (2 1/4 + 3/8)

  = (18/8) : (18/8 +3/8) = 18 : 21 = 6 : 7

Then the amount of sugar in the baker's initial is ...

  (6/7) × 357 = 306 . . . . pounds

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Additional comment

If you realize that 2 1/4 is much more than 3/8, then you realize most of the mix is sugar. Of the answer choices, the only one that is most of 357 pounds is the first one: 306 pounds. That is the correct choice. In other words, your sense of the quantities involved is sufficient to answer the question, without any math.