Problem 448 - Prealgebra

Question

Scouts There are 14 boys in Dave’s scout troop. At summer camp, each boy earned 5 merit badges. What was the total number of merit badges earned by Dave’s scout troop at summer camp?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

70 merit badges

Step 1: Identify Key Information

Determine the number of boys in Dave's scout troop and the number of merit badges each boy earned. There are 14 boys and each boy earned 5 merit badges.

Step 2: Set Up the Multiplication

To find the total number of merit badges earned, multiply the number of boys by the number of merit badges each boy earned. That is, calculate \(14 \times 5\).

Step 3: Perform the Calculation

Multiply 14 by 5: \[14 \times 5 = 70\]

Step 4: Verify the Result

Check the calculation to ensure the accuracy: \[14 \times 5 = 70\]. Therefore, the total number of merit badges earned by Dave's scout troop is 70.

Key Concepts

basic multiplication

Multiplication is a fundamental arithmetic operation. It combines groups of equal size. In this problem, we need to find out how many total merit badges the boys earned. To do this, we use basic multiplication.

Imagine there are 14 boys and each boy earned 5 merit badges. We need to determine how many badges in total. We use multiplication to combine these groups.

The equation we need is: \(14 \times 5\). This means we have 14 groups with 5 badges in each group. Multiplication makes it fast and easy to find out the total amount. It is important to practice and get comfortable with basic multiplication as it's used in various real-life scenarios.

problem-solving steps

Solving multiplication word problems can be systematic. Following a few steps helps to solve accurately:

Ul>

Step 1: Identify Key Information - Note the important numbers and facts in the problem. Here, you are told there are 14 boys and each earned 5 merit badges.

Step 2: Set Up the Multiplication - Arrange the information into a multiplication equation. We multiply the number of boys by the number of badges each boy earned: \(14 \times 5\).

Step 3: Perform the Calculation - Multiply the two numbers. So \(14 \times 5 = 70\).

Step 4: Verify the Result - Double-check the calculation to ensure the solution is correct. Verify by re-multiplying: \(14 \times 5\).

These steps ensure that you approach all word problems in an organized manner, increasing accuracy and understanding.

integer arithmetic

Integer arithmetic involves basic operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division using whole numbers. In this exercise, we focus on multiplication with integers.

Here, our integers are 14 and 5. When performing the multiplication: \(14 \times 5 = 70\). Both 14 and 5 are positive integers, and their product, 70, is an integer as well.

Integers can be positive, negative, or zero. Understanding integer arithmetic helps in many areas of math and everyday problem-solving. With practice, you will get faster and more accurate in your calculations. Remember, practice and repetition are keys to mastering integer arithmetic.