Problem 43 - Prealgebra

Question

cost of Avocados Jacqueline is buying six avocados. Each avocado weighs 8 oz. How much will they cost her if avocados cost $$ 2.00$ a pound?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

Jacqueline will pay $6.00 for the avocados.

Step 1: Determine the Total Weight in Ounces

Jacqueline is purchasing six avocados, and each one weighs 8 ounces. To find the total weight, multiply the number of avocados by the weight of each avocado:\[ 6 \text{ avocados} \times 8 \text{ oz/avocado} = 48 \text{ oz} \]

Step 2: Convert Ounces to Pounds

There are 16 ounces in a pound. To convert the total weight from ounces to pounds, divide the total weight in ounces by 16:\[ \frac{48 \text{ ounces}}{16 \text{ oz/lb}} = 3 \text{ pounds} \]

Step 3: Calculate the Total Cost

Each pound of avocado costs \\(2.00. To find the total cost, multiply the total weight in pounds by the cost per pound:\[ 3 \text{ pounds} \times \\)2.00/\text{pound} = \$6.00 \]

Key Concepts

Weight Measurement

When it comes to weight measurement, understanding the difference between ounces and pounds is crucial. These are two common units used in the United States to measure weight, especially for groceries. Here's what you need to know:

• 1 pound (lb) = 16 ounces (oz). This means pounds are larger units compared to ounces.
• An ounce is a smaller unit often used for lighter objects or when higher precision is required.
• To get a grasp of these units, think of larger fruits or packages typically measured in pounds, whereas smaller items might be in ounces.

In our example, each avocado is weighed in ounces, illustrating a common scenario in everyday shopping. Understanding these units helps us in conversion tasks needed in calculations.

Multiplication

Multiplication is a fundamental math operation used to find the total of adding a number multiple times. In this context, it's used to calculate the total weight of all avocados Jacqueline is buying. Here's how this operation works:

• If you have 6 avocados each weighing 8 oz, you'd multiply the quantity by the weight: \( 6 \times 8 = 48 \) oz.
• This multiplication gives you the total weight of the avocados in ounces.

This step ensures you accurately sum up the weight of multiple items, which is essential before making any unit conversions.

Division

After finding the total weight, division is often used to convert that total into another unit of measure. Here, we’re converting ounces to pounds. This process is straightforward:

• You know there are 16 oz in a pound, so you divide the total ounces by 16.
• For example: \( \frac{48}{16} = 3 \) pounds.

This conversion is crucial because the price is given in pounds. Division helps break down a larger number (total ounces) into manageable smaller units (pounds) for practical use in cost calculations.

Cost Calculation

To finalize any shopping-related challenge, cost calculation is the key step. It helps in determining the total amount you'll pay. We're calculating costs based on the price per pound of avocados. Here's how it's done:

• First, confirm how many pounds you have (from the previous step).
• Multiply the number of pounds by the cost per pound. Here it's 3 pounds at \($2.00/pound\).
• The formula used is: \( 3 \times 2 = 6 \) dollars, giving you the total cost.

This method ensures you know exactly what to anticipate at the checkout, making it easier to manage budgets.