How many cups of peanut butter must be used in order to make exactly enough peanut butter balls for the children at the party?

Rationale

18 cups of peanut butter must be used to make exactly enough peanut butter balls for the children at the party.

To determine the correct amount of peanut butter needed for the party, we must calculate the number of peanut butter balls required based on the number of children attending. The recipe specifies that 18 cups yield the precise quantity needed for all attendees.

A (10) YOUR ANSWER

Using 10 cups of peanut butter would result in an insufficient number of peanut butter balls for the children at the party. The recipe and the number of attendees clearly indicate that this quantity is below the necessary threshold.

B (12) YOUR ANSWER

While 12 cups of peanut butter would provide more than 10, it still falls short of the quantity needed for the full number of children. This amount does not meet the requirements set forth by the recipe for the event.

C (18) CORRECT

This is the correct choice as it perfectly matches the amount of peanut butter needed to produce the exact number of peanut butter balls required for all the children at the party. This calculation ensures that every child will receive a treat.

D (24) YOUR ANSWER

Using 24 cups of peanut butter would create an excess of peanut butter balls, which is unnecessary given the number of children attending the party. This option not only exceeds the requirement but also could lead to waste.

Conclusion

In summary, the correct amount of peanut butter needed to make enough peanut butter balls for the children at the party is 18 cups. This quantity ensures that each child receives a treat without surplus or shortage. The other options either do not fulfill the requirement or exceed it unnecessarily, making 18 cups the optimal choice.