Rodolfo and Jack will make potato skins to serve at a welcome home party for their brother returning from overseas military service. The teens can buy a five-pound bag of potatoes for $4.79 or buy single potatoes for $0.89 per pound. Jack said they should buy the bag since food packaged in bags is usually a better deal. Being skeptical, Rodolfo did a few calculations and suggested buying potatoes by the pound because it is a better value. Jack is also skeptical and asked to see Rodolfo’s calculations.
a) Explain which is a better value and why.
b) What should be the price of a bag of potatoes in order for the price per pound to be the same as the price of a pound of single potatoes?