Problem 126 - Prealgebra

Question

Home sales Emma is a realtor. Last month, she sold three houses. The selling prices of the houses were \(292,540, \)505,875, and $423,699. What was the total of the three selling prices?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

The total selling prices are \$1,222,114.

Step 1 - List the Selling Prices

Identify the selling prices of the three houses. They are:\[ 292,540, \ 505,875, \text{ and } 423,699 \]

Step 2 - Add the Prices

Add the three selling prices together to find the total.\[ 292,540 + 505,875 + 423,699 \]

Step 3 - Calculate the Sum

Perform the addition: \[ 292,540 + 505,875 = 798,415 \]. Next, add the remaining price:\[ 798,415 + 423,699 = 1,222,114 \]

Step 4 - Verify the Total

Double-check the addition to ensure the correct total.\[ 292,540 + 505,875 = 798,415 \]\[ 798,415 + 423,699 = 1,222,114 \]

Key Concepts

Basic Arithmetic

Understanding basic arithmetic, especially addition, is vital to solving many real-life problems.
In this exercise, we are dealing with whole numbers. Unlike fractions or decimals, whole numbers are easier to add.
The primary steps for adding whole numbers involve:

• Listing the numbers to add


• Aligning the numbers by their place values (units, tens, hundreds, etc.)


• Adding the numbers starting from the rightmost digit and moving to the left

To make this clearer, let’s take Emma's case as an example.
We list the house selling prices: \(292,540, 505,875, and 423,699\)
Then, we add them:
\(292,540 + 505,875 = 798,415\)
And finally:
\(798,415 + 423,699 = 1,222,114\)
Practicing these steps helps build a solid foundation in basic arithmetic.

Real-Life Math Problems

Math isn't just for the classroom, it's everywhere in real life, too.
Emma's example, where she adds the selling prices of houses, shows this.
Realtors often deal with large numbers when calculating total sales.
For instance, adding selling prices helps determine the total revenue for a month.
Other practical uses of addition in real life include:

• Calculating total expenses


• Tracking weekly grocery costs


• Summing up points in a game

Understanding how to perform basic arithmetic can help you in countless everyday situations.
The numbers might be big, but the process is always manageable with practice.

Multi-Step Problem Solving

Some math problems require more than just one step to solve.
Emma's total house sales calculation is a good example.
Here we had to perform multiple additions.
This method is known as multi-step problem solving.
To solve these problems efficiently:

• Break down the problem into smaller, manageable steps


• Perform each step carefully and double-check your results


• Combine the results from each step to find the final answer

For Emma's problem, the multi-step process was:
1. List the house prices (\(292,540, 505,875, 423,699\))
2. Add the first two prices (\(292,540 + 505,875 = 798,415\))
3. Add the result to the third price (\(798,415 + 423,699 = 1,222,114\))
Breaking it down helps avoid errors and makes the problem easier to tackle.
Practicing multi-step problem solving will make you more confident in dealing with complex math problems.