PSAT Math Multiple-Choice Question 785: Answer and Explanation

Question: 785

A chef is making cookies from scratch. He requires a set period of time to gather the ingredients and to get everything set up to make the cookies. Then the chef needs a set period of time to make each individual cookie. If c represents the total number of cookies he is making and if t represents the total amount of time it takes to make c cookies, what is the meaning of the 20 in this equation: t = 20 + 10c ?

• A. How much time it takes to make each individual cookie
• B. The fixed cost of the cookie ingredients
• C. The maximum number of cookies he can make in 10 minutes
• D. The amount of time it takes him to set things up prior to making a cookie

Correct Answer: D

Explanation:

(D) In this equation, the 20 is a constant. Therefore, this is a constant amount of time required that isn't dependent on the number of cookies the chef makes. Therefore, this is the amount of time he requires to get the ingredients and set things up, which matches choice (D).