You need to buy some chicken for dinner tonight. You found an ad showing that the store across town has it on sale for $2.79 a pound, which is cheaper than your usual neighborhood store, which sells it for $3.19 a pound. Is it worth the extra drive?

First, determine what information you need to answer this question, then click here to display that info (along with other info).

How much chicken will you be buying? 4 pounds

How much far are the two stores? My neighborhood store is 2.2 miles away, and takes about 8 minutes. The store across town is 8.3 miles away, and takes about 22 minutes.

How kind of mileage does your car get? It averages about 25 miles per gallon in the city.

How many gallons does your car hold? About 15 gallons

How much is gas? About $3.72/gallon right now.

Store across town saves $0.69 but takes 26 extra minutes of driving.

Step-by-step explanation:

The relevant information is in bold below.

How much chicken will you be buying? 4 pounds

How much far are the two stores? My neighborhood store is 2.2 miles away, and takes about 8 minutes. The store across town is 8.3 miles away, and takes about 22 minutes.

How kind of mileage does your car get? It averages about 25 miles per gallon in the city.

How many gallons does your car hold? About 15 gallons

How much is gas? About $3.72/gallon right now.

To answer this question, we need to factor in the price of the chicken at each store and the price of the gas to drive to each store.

For each situation, multiply the cost per lb of chicken by 4 lb to get the price of the chicken. Then divide miles by miles per gal to get number of gallons needed. Multiply number of gallons needed by cost of gas to find price of gas.

1. Neighborhood store:

Chicken price: $3.19/lb * 4 lb = $12.76

Gas price: (2.2 miles) / (25 miles/gal) * $3.72/gal = $0.33

Total cost (chicken and gas) = $12.76 + $0.33 = $13.09

2. Store across town:

Chicken price: $2.79/lb * 4 lb = $11.16

Gas price: (8.3 miles) / (25 miles/gal) * $3.72/gal = $1.24

Total cost (chicken and gas) = $11.16 + $1.24 = $12.40

Answer: If the only consideration is money, then it is cheaper to buy in the store across town. You will save $13.09 - $12.40 = $0.69

If driving plays a part in the decision, then it takes 44 minutes round trip to the store across town and only 16 minutes for the neighborhood store. The difference is 26 minutes. Is saving $0.69 worth an extra 26 minutes of driving?