11. Lucas is making one dozen snacks for his team. He uses \( \frac{1}{4} \) cup of dried cherries and \( \frac{2}{4} \) cup of dried apricots for each snack. How many cups of dried fruit does Lucas need for his one dozen snacks? Remember, there are 12 snacks in one dozen. Write and solve equations to show how you found the answer.

To find out how much dried fruit Lucas needs for one dozen snacks, we can first calculate the total amount of each type of dried fruit required per snack. For dried cherries: \[ \text{Total cherries for 12 snacks} = \frac{1}{4} \text{ cup} \times 12 = 3 \text{ cups} \] For dried apricots: \[ \text{Total apricots for 12 snacks} = \frac{2}{4} \text{ cup} \times 12 = 6 \text{ cups} \] Now, we can add these two amounts together to find the total amount of dried fruit needed: \[ \text{Total dried fruit} = 3 \text{ cups (cherries)} + 6 \text{ cups (apricots)} = 9 \text{ cups} \] Lucas needs a total of 9 cups of dried fruit to make one dozen snacks. --- Did you know that dried fruits have been enjoyed for thousands of years? Egyptians used to preserve fruits like figs and dates under the hot sun, creating sweet treats that could be stored for long journeys. These little nuggets of energy have been a part of human diets since ancient times! Fun fact: Dried fruits aren’t just healthy snacks; they’re also great for baking, cooking, or even tossing into salads for a pop of flavor! You can mix them with nuts for a quick trail mix, or add them to your morning oatmeal for sweetness. Their concentrated flavors add a unique twist to a variety of dishes!