A purchaser wants to order highly perishable products for immediate use. She needs 12 cases and currently has 2.5 cases available. How many cases will she normally purchase?

A purchaser wants to order highly perishable products for immediate use. She needs 12 cases and currently has 2.5 cases available. How many cases will she normally purchase?

• A. 9.5 cases
• B. 14.5 cases
• C. 10.0 cases
• D. 7.5 cases

Answer: (A)

When you need a certain total amount for immediate use, you order the difference between what’s required and what you already have. Here, 12 cases are needed and 2.5 cases are on hand. Subtracting gives 12 − 2.5 = 9.5 cases to order. This brings the on-hand total to exactly 12, which is sensible for highly perishable items that are used right away—ordering more would risk spoilage, and ordering less wouldn’t meet the immediate need.

When you need a certain total amount for immediate use, you order the difference between what’s required and what you already have. Here, 12 cases are needed and 2.5 cases are on hand. Subtracting gives 12 − 2.5 = 9.5 cases to order. This brings the on-hand total to exactly 12, which is sensible for highly perishable items that are used right away—ordering more would risk spoilage, and ordering less wouldn’t meet the immediate need.