Problem 327 - Prealgebra

Question

In the following exercises, solve. Charity Rey donated 15 twelve-packs of t-shirts to a homeless shelter. How many t-shirts did he donate?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

Charity Rey donated 180 t-shirts.

Step 1: Understand the Problem

Charity Rey donated 15 packs of t-shirts, with each pack containing 12 t-shirts. The goal is to determine the total number of t-shirts donated.

Step 2: Identify Relevant Information

Each pack contains 12 t-shirts, and there are 15 such packs. This can be represented mathematically as multiplying the number of packs by the number of t-shirts per pack.

Step 3: Set Up the Multiplication

To find the total number of t-shirts, use the multiplication equation: \[ 15 \times 12 \]

Step 4: Perform the Multiplication

Multiply 15 by 12: \[ 15 \times 12 = 180 \]

Step 5: State the Final Answer

Charity Rey donated a total of 180 t-shirts to the homeless shelter.

Key Concepts

Word Problems

Word problems can sometimes seem tricky, but they are excellent for practicing real-life math skills. They involve reading a situation stated in text and then translating that information into a math problem. In this example, the word problem states that Charity Rey donated 15 twelve-packs of t-shirts to a homeless shelter. To solve it, we need to extract the numerical information and understand what operation to perform.
One effective way to tackle word problems is to follow these steps:

• Read the problem carefully.
• Identify and highlight the key numerical information.
• Decide which math operation (addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division) fits the problem.
• Set up a mathematical equation and solve it step-by-step.

Doing this repeatedly will make tackling word problems easier over time and help you see how math applies in different scenarios. Remember, practice makes perfect!

Multiplication

Multiplication is one of the core operations in arithmetic. It is essentially repeated addition. When you multiply, you are combining equal groups together. In this problem, you are combining 15 groups where each group has 12 t-shirts.
The multiplication equation to determine the total number of t-shirts is:
\(15 \times 12\)Performing this multiplication step-by-step can be broken down as:

• 15 times 10 equals 150
• 15 times 2 equals 30
• Adding them together, 150 + 30 equals 180

So, \( 15 \times 12 = 180 \). Multiplication is very useful when you need to quickly combine equal groups, making it a critical skill in math.

Real-Life Math Application

Math isn't just for the classroom; it’s for everyday life! This problem is a perfect example of how multiplication is used in real-world situations. Charity Rey's donation of t-shirts could be a real-life scenario.
Here are some other examples where multiplication comes in handy:

• Determining total cost: If you buy 8 tickets, each costing $15, you'd multiply 8 by 15 to get the total cost.
• Cooking: If a recipe for 1 person requires 3 eggs, you'd need to multiply 3 eggs by the number of people to know how many eggs you need in total.
• Travel: Calculating the total distance when driving round trips, you multiply the one-way distance by 2.

By practicing multiplication with real-life examples, you not only improve your math skills but also see its value and necessity in daily activities.