The Minimum Cost per Shirt

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 88 views

Introduction

As a high school coach, buying new shirts for the track team can be a daunting task, especially when there are budget constraints. In this scenario, the coach has 25 members on the track team and a budget of $300 to spend on shirts. The coach needs to determine how much he can spend per shirt, denoted as $s$ . In this article, we will explore the mathematical constraints that the coach must consider to find the optimal budget for each shirt.

The Budget Constraint

The coach's primary concern is to stay within the budget of $300. This means that the total cost of the shirts must not exceed $300. Mathematically, this can be represented as:

25s ≤ 300

where $s$ is the amount spent per shirt.

The Cost per Shirt

To find the maximum amount that the coach can spend per shirt, we need to divide the total budget by the number of shirts. This can be represented as:

s = 300 / 25

s = 12

The Minimum Cost per Shirt

However, the coach may also want to consider the minimum cost per shirt. Since the coach cannot spend a negative amount per shirt, the minimum cost per shirt is $0.

The Maximum Cost per Shirt

On the other hand, the coach may also want to consider the maximum cost per shirt. Since the coach has a budget of $300 and there are 25 shirts, the maximum cost per shirt is $300 / 25 = $12.

The Optimal Budget per Shirt

Based on the budget constraint, the coach can spend a maximum of $12 per shirt. However, this does not take into account any additional costs that the coach may incur, such as sales tax or shipping costs.

Conclusion

Mathematical Representation

The mathematical representation of the problem can be represented as:

25s ≤ 300

s = 300 / 25

s = 12

Additional Considerations

There are several additional considerations that the coach may want to take into account when determining the optimal budget per shirt. These include:

Sales tax: The coach may need to pay sales tax on the shirts, which can increase the total cost.
Shipping costs: The coach may need to pay shipping costs to get the shirts to the team.
Discounts: The coach may be able to negotiate discounts with the shirt supplier, which can reduce the total cost.
Quality of shirts: The coach may want to consider the quality of the shirts when determining the optimal budget per shirt.

Real-World Applications

This problem has several real-world applications. For example:

A business owner may need to determine the optimal price for a product based on the cost of production and the number of units sold.
A government agency may need to determine the optimal budget for a project based on the available funds and the number of people affected.
A non-profit organization may need to determine the optimal budget for a program based on the available funds and the number of people served.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, the coach must spend less than $300 on the shirts and needs to figure out how much he can spend per shirt, $s$ . Based on the budget constraint, the coach can spend a maximum of $12 per shirt. However, this does not take into account any additional costs that the coach may incur. The coach should consider several additional factors, including sales tax, shipping costs, discounts, and the quality of the shirts, when determining the optimal budget per shirt.

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored the mathematical constraints that a high school coach must consider when buying new shirts for the track team. The coach has a budget of $300 and needs to determine how much he can spend per shirt, denoted as $s$ . In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions related to this problem.

Q&A

Q: What is the maximum amount that the coach can spend per shirt?

A: The maximum amount that the coach can spend per shirt is $12, which is calculated by dividing the total budget of $300 by the number of shirts, 25.

Q: What is the minimum cost per shirt?

A: The minimum cost per shirt is $0, since the coach cannot spend a negative amount per shirt.

Q: What are some additional costs that the coach may incur?

A: Some additional costs that the coach may incur include sales tax, shipping costs, and discounts. The coach should consider these costs when determining the optimal budget per shirt.

Q: How can the coach negotiate discounts with the shirt supplier?

A: The coach can negotiate discounts with the shirt supplier by contacting the supplier directly and asking about any available discounts. The coach can also ask about any bulk discounts that may be available.

Q: What is the quality of the shirts an important consideration?

A: Yes, the quality of the shirts is an important consideration. The coach should consider the quality of the shirts when determining the optimal budget per shirt. If the coach wants high-quality shirts, he may need to spend more per shirt.

Q: Can the coach spend more than $12 per shirt?

A: No, the coach cannot spend more than $12 per shirt, since the total budget of $300 is fixed and the coach has 25 shirts to buy.

Q: What are some real-world applications of this problem?

A: Some real-world applications of this problem include determining the optimal price for a product based on the cost of production and the number of units sold, determining the optimal budget for a project based on the available funds and the number of people affected, and determining the optimal budget for a program based on the available funds and the number of people served.

Q: How can the coach ensure that he stays within the budget?

A: The coach can ensure that he stays within the budget by keeping track of his expenses and making sure that the total cost of the shirts does not exceed $300.

Q: What are some tips for the coach to save money on shirts?

A: Some tips for the coach to save money on shirts include buying in bulk, negotiating discounts with the supplier, and considering the quality of the shirts.

Conclusion

Additional Resources

Mathematical Representation of the Problem
Real-World Applications of the Problem
Tips for Saving Money on Shirts