Question

Tomas bought 2.4 pounds each of apples and pears. The apples cost $1.65 a pound and the pears cost $2.25 a pound. Tomas split the cost of the apples and pears evenly with his 3 siblings. How much should each of them pay for the apples and pears?

Answer 1

$2.34

Explanation:

The total cost is the sum of the number of pounds multiplied by the cost per pound for each of the items purchased. Each of the four equal shares of the cost will be 1/4 of the total cost.

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The distributive property can be used to simplify the problem.

total cost = cost of apples + cost of pears

share cost = 1/4(total cost) = 1/4((2.4 lb)($1.65/lb) +(2.4 lb)($2.25/lb))

share cost = (1/4)(2.4)($1.65 +2.25) = 0.6($3.90)

share cost = $2.34

Each of them should pay $2.34 for the apples and pears.