number of servings. She made 4 servings. (Type a whole number.) 18. Alex needs \( 5 \frac{1}{3} \) cups of ginger ale to make punch for a group of her friends. She has only \( 2 \frac{1}{2} \) cups. Write an equation to represent how many more cups of ginger ale Alex needs. Then solve. Select the correct equation that represents the problem. B. \( c=5 \frac{1}{3} \) C. \( 2 \frac{1}{2}+5 \frac{1}{3}=5 \frac{1}{3}+\mathrm{C} \) D. \( 2 \frac{1}{2}-\mathrm{c}=5 \frac{1}{3} \)

To tackle this problem, let's simplify the question! Alex needs \( 5 \frac{1}{3} \) cups, but she only has \( 2 \frac{1}{2} \) cups. To find out how many more cups she needs, we can set up the equation as follows: we want to find how many cups (let's call it \( c \)) she still needs. The correct representation for this situation is \( 5 \frac{1}{3} - 2 \frac{1}{2} = c \). Now, translating that into the answer choices you provided, the correct form would be reflected best in C since it illustrates combining her available amount with the amount she needs to reach the target. So hunt for that one while solving the equation! By the way, did you know that ginger ale, which has a long history as a refreshing beverage, was originally developed as a health tonic in the 19th century? It’s not just for punch; people used it to soothe stomach issues back in the day! Also, measuring ingredients like ginger ale for large groups can get tricky. A common mistake is to forget to convert mixed numbers to improper fractions before doing calculations. So, when you're mixing up your punch, take a moment to check those conversions; they'll save you from hiccups—both in your recipe and in your drink!