Lori and Monica are looking at the cans of coffee on display at a local supermarket. They are trying to decide which of two differently-sized cans will be the better buy. Lori attempts to divide the price of each can by the number of ounces of coffee each can contains. Monica suggests that "the larger size is usually a better buy." Lori is using a(n) ____, whereas Monica is using a(n) ________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Lori is using a heuristic, which is a mental shortcut or rule of thumb, to determine the value of each can. She is dividing the price by the number of ounces to make a quick calculation. Monica is using an algorithm, which is a step-by-step procedure for solving a problem. She is suggesting that a larger size is usually a better buy, based on the assumption that economies of scale apply to coffee. However, this is not always the case, as the price per ounce may actually be higher for the larger can. Therefore, B is the best choice as it correctly identifies the strategies used by each person.

Lori and Monica Are Looking at the Cans of Coffee