Question

Fat Content Suppose that you order a small McCafeTM chocolate shake ( \(15 \mathrm{~g}\) of fat) and an Artisan Grilled Chicken Sandwich" (7 g of fat) at McDonald's. How many oatmeal raisin cookies can you eat ( \(5 \mathrm{~g}\) of fat) and still keep the total fat content of your meal to no more than \(47 \mathrm{~g} ?\)

Short answer

You can eat 5 oatmeal raisin cookies.

Step-by-step solution

Identify Total Fat from Shake and Sandwich

The McCafe chocolate shake contains 15 g of fat, and the Artisan Grilled Chicken Sandwich contains 7 g of fat. Therefore, the total fat content from both items is \(15 \text{ g} + 7 \text{ g} = 22 \text{ g} \).

Determine Remaining Allowable Fat

To keep the total fat content of the meal to no more than 47 g, determine how much fat can still be eaten after consuming the shake and sandwich. Subtract the total fat from the shake and sandwich from 47 g: \( 47 \text{ g} - 22 \text{ g} = 25 \text{ g} \).

Calculate the Number of Cookies

Each oatmeal raisin cookie contains 5 g of fat. To find out how many cookies can be eaten without exceeding 25 g of remaining fat: Divide the remaining fat by the fat content per cookie: \( \frac{25 \text{ g}}{5 \text{ g/cookie}} = 5 \text{ cookies} \).

Key concepts

step-by-step problem solving

When solving problems, breaking them down into simple steps is crucial. This helps in understanding each part separately before combining them into the final solution.
For this exercise, we followed a systematic approach:
Identify what we know: We started with the fat content of the shake and sandwich.
Determine what we need to find out: The number of cookies we can eat without exceeding the total fat limit.
Tackle each part one by one: We added the fats from the shake and sandwich, calculated the remaining allowable fat, and then used that to find the number of cookies.
Practicing problems this way ensures clarity and helps you spot errors easily.
When you break down problems, mark each step clearly. This makes it easier not only for you, but also for others who might review your work.

algebraic equations

Algebra plays a huge role in solving dietary math applications. Let's simplify the real-world problem with an equation.
We know:
The total allowable fat from the whole meal should not exceed 47 g.
The fat from the shake and sandwich is 22 g.
Each cookie contains 5 g of fat.
To find the number of cookies, let's call the number of cookies 'x'. The equation we set up becomes:


22 g + (5 g) * x ≤ 47 g Where x represents the number of cookies.
We solve this inequality:
(5 g) * x ≤ 47 g - 22 g 5x ≤ 25 g x ≤ 5 Hence, the maximum number of cookies you can eat is 5.
Understanding how to set up and solve equations like this makes solving such problems quick and straightforward.
This foundation is invaluable for more complex problems where multiple variables are involved.

dietary math applications

Math isn't just for the classroom; it's everywhere, even in your diet choices. In this example, we used math to make sure our meal fits within dietary limits.
Knowing the fat content of foods can help in planning balanced meals. For instance:
Tracking calorie intake
Balancing macronutrients (like fats, proteins, and carbs)
Preventing overconsumption of unhealthy elements
This exercise showed how we can use simple math to ensure a healthier lifestyle.
By understanding the fat content and calculating permissible intakes, you can make more informed dietary decisions. Next time, whether it's counting the fats, carbs, or calories, remember that a bit of math can go a long way!