Answer:
43 stitches.
Step-by-step explanation:
We have been given that each pant's leg has an opening with a circumference of 8.5 inches. It took 15 stitches to make 3 inches in width. We are asked to find the number of stitches required to make up the circumference.
Let us find stitches needed to make 1 inch by dividing 15 by 3.
[tex]\text{Stitches needed to make 1 inch}=\frac{15}{3}[/tex]
[tex]\text{Stitches needed to make 1 inch}=5[/tex]
Since 5 stitches make 1 inch, so to find stitches needed to make 8.5 inches, we will multiply 8.5 by 5 as:
[tex]\text{Stitches needed to make 8.5 inches}=5\times 8.5[/tex]
[tex]\text{Stitches needed to make 8.5 inches}=42.5[/tex]
Upon rounding to nearest stitch, we will get:
[tex]\text{Stitches needed to make 8.5 inches}\approx 43[/tex]
Therefore, 43 stitches will make up the circumference.