Problem 446 - Prealgebra

Question

Reading Last night Emily read 6 pages in her Business textbook, 26 pages in her History text, 15 pages in her Psychology text, and 9 pages in her math text. What is the total number of pages Emily read?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

The total number of pages Emily read is 56.

Step 1: Identify the pages read from each book

Emily read 6 pages from her Business textbook, 26 pages from her History textbook, 15 pages from her Psychology textbook, and 9 pages from her Math textbook.

Step 2: Write down the pages read from each subject

List all the pages read: 6, 26, 15, and 9.

Step 3: Add all the pages together

Sum the pages: 6 + 26 + 15 + 9

Step 4: Calculate the sum

Perform the addition: 6 + 26 = 32 32 + 15 = 47 47 + 9 = 56

Key Concepts

total pages calculation

Understanding how to calculate the total number of pages read is a crucial skill, especially when dealing with multiple subjects or tasks. In this example, Emily read from various textbooks, so to find out the total, we need to sum up the pages from each book.
First, let’s identify the pages read from each subject:

• Business: 6 pages
• History: 26 pages
• Psychology: 15 pages
• Math: 9 pages

By simply adding these numbers together, we can obtain the total count. Always start by listing out the numbers clearly before performing any operations.

summation

Summation is the process of adding a series of numbers together. In mathematics, it is represented by the symbol \(\sum\), which denotes the sum of terms. For Emily's reading, we list all the pages read:
\[\sum = 6 + 26 + 15 + 9\]
The addition follows a step-by-step approach:

• Add the first two numbers: 6 + 26. This equals 32.
• Then add the next number to the result: 32 + 15, which gives us 47.
• Finally, add the last number: 47 + 9, resulting in 56.

This structured method ensures that we accurately calculate the total number of pages read.

problem-solving steps

Solving problems systematically not only simplifies the process but also minimizes mistakes. Let's break down the steps for solving our total pages read problem:

• Identify the problem: Determine what needs to be calculated, which in this case is the total number of pages read.
• Gather information: Gather all the related data, which includes the number of pages read for each subject.
• Organize the information: List the numbers clearly (6, 26, 15, and 9).
• Perform calculations: Sum the numbers step by step to ensure accuracy.
• Verify the result: Double-check the additions to confirm that the final total (56 pages) is correct.

Following these structured problem-solving steps helps in tackling similar exercises efficiently and effectively.