Calculating Total Cost A Math Problem About Hannah's Snack Shopping

In this article, we will delve into a real-world scenario involving basic arithmetic and problem-solving. We'll follow Hannah on her trip to the store where she's stocking up on her favorite snacks. The goal is to determine the total amount Hannah spent on her purchases, requiring us to calculate the cost of each snack item and then sum them up. This exercise is a great way to illustrate how math concepts are applied in everyday situations, making it relatable and engaging. So, let's put on our thinking caps and get ready to crunch some numbers to solve Hannah's shopping puzzle! This problem is not just about adding a few numbers; it's about understanding how different quantities and prices interact, a skill that's incredibly useful in real-life scenarios like grocery shopping, budgeting, or even running a small business. It emphasizes the practical application of mathematics, demonstrating how seemingly simple calculations can help us manage our finances and make informed decisions. By breaking down the problem into smaller, manageable steps, we can see how each individual calculation contributes to the overall solution. This approach not only helps in solving the problem at hand but also enhances our problem-solving skills in general, making us more confident and capable in tackling mathematical challenges.

Hannah is at the store, ready to satisfy her sweet cravings. She decides to buy a mix of different snacks: 0.5 pounds of gummy bears, 0.75 pounds of chocolate-covered pretzels, and a substantial 2.4 pounds of hard candy. Each type of snack has a different price per pound, as outlined in the table below. Our mission is to figure out exactly how much Hannah spent in total at the store. This requires us to use the information provided about the quantities and prices of each snack to calculate the individual costs and then combine them to find the grand total. It's a practical math problem that reflects everyday shopping scenarios, making it both relevant and engaging. Let's dive in and calculate Hannah's spending!

To find out how much Hannah spent, we need to break down the problem into smaller, more manageable steps. This will make the calculation process clearer and reduce the chances of making errors. We will calculate the cost of each snack type individually and then add those costs together to get the total amount Hannah spent.

1. Calculate the cost of the gummy bears.

Hannah bought 0.5 pounds of gummy bears, and they cost $2.50 per pound. To find the total cost of the gummy bears, we multiply the quantity by the price per pound:

Cost of gummy bears = Quantity of gummy bears × Price per pound

Cost of gummy bears = 0.5 pounds × $2.50/pound = $1.25

This calculation shows that Hannah spent $1.25 on gummy bears. This is a straightforward multiplication problem, but it's crucial to understand the units we're working with. We're multiplying pounds by dollars per pound, which gives us the total cost in dollars. This step-by-step approach helps us to see how each individual calculation contributes to the final answer. By breaking down the problem into smaller parts, we can focus on each calculation more effectively, ensuring accuracy and understanding. This principle of breaking down complex problems into simpler steps is a valuable problem-solving strategy that can be applied in many different contexts, both in mathematics and in real-life situations.

2. Calculate the cost of the chocolate covered pretzels.

Next, we need to calculate how much Hannah spent on chocolate-covered pretzels. She bought 0.75 pounds, and they cost $3.00 per pound. We use the same method as before:

Cost of chocolate covered pretzels = Quantity of pretzels × Price per pound

Cost of chocolate covered pretzels = 0.75 pounds × $3.00/pound = $2.25

This means Hannah spent $2.25 on chocolate-covered pretzels. In this calculation, we're again applying the principle of multiplying the quantity by the unit price to find the total cost. The decimal multiplication might seem a bit trickier than the previous calculation, but it's just a matter of paying attention to the decimal places. Understanding how to work with decimals is a fundamental skill in mathematics, and this problem provides a practical context for applying that skill. By solving this step, we're not only finding the cost of the pretzels but also reinforcing our understanding of decimal multiplication and its application in real-world scenarios. This step-by-step approach not only makes the problem easier to solve but also helps in building a strong foundation in basic arithmetic.

3. Calculate the cost of the hard candy.

Now, let's calculate the cost of the hard candy. Hannah bought 2.4 pounds, and it costs $1.75 per pound. The calculation is as follows:

Cost of hard candy = Quantity of hard candy × Price per pound

Cost of hard candy = 2.4 pounds × $1.75/pound = $4.20

So, Hannah spent $4.20 on hard candy. This calculation involves multiplying a decimal number (2.4 pounds) by another decimal number ($1.75 per pound). It's essential to ensure that the multiplication is done accurately, paying close attention to the decimal places. This step demonstrates the importance of understanding how to multiply decimals and how it applies in real-world scenarios like calculating the cost of items when shopping. The hard candy is the item Hannah bought the most of, and it also turns out to be the most expensive individual item on her list. This step not only contributes to the final answer but also reinforces the skill of multiplying decimals and understanding their application in practical situations.

4. Calculate the total cost.

Finally, to find the total amount Hannah spent, we add up the costs of all the snacks:

Total cost = Cost of gummy bears + Cost of chocolate covered pretzels + Cost of hard candy

Total cost = $1.25 + $2.25 + $4.20 = $7.70

Therefore, Hannah spent a total of $7.70 at the store. This final step brings together all the individual calculations we've done so far. It's a simple addition problem, but it's crucial because it gives us the final answer to the problem. By adding up the costs of each snack, we get the total amount Hannah spent. This step not only provides the solution to the problem but also reinforces the concept of addition and its importance in calculating totals. It's a satisfying conclusion to the problem-solving process, as we've successfully answered the question of how much Hannah spent at the store. This final calculation highlights the practical application of addition in everyday situations, such as shopping and budgeting.

Hannah spent a total of $7.70 at the store.

In this exercise, we successfully determined the total amount Hannah spent on her snack shopping spree. By breaking down the problem into manageable steps, we calculated the cost of each item and then summed them up to arrive at the final answer. This problem highlights the practical application of basic arithmetic in everyday situations, such as shopping and budgeting. It demonstrates how understanding mathematical concepts can help us make informed decisions and manage our finances effectively. The problem-solving approach we used, breaking down a complex problem into smaller, simpler steps, is a valuable strategy that can be applied in various contexts, both in mathematics and in real life. By practicing such problems, we not only improve our mathematical skills but also enhance our ability to think critically and solve problems efficiently. This exercise serves as a reminder that math is not just an abstract subject but a practical tool that we can use to navigate the world around us. The ability to calculate costs, understand quantities, and make informed decisions based on numerical information is essential in many aspects of life, from managing personal finances to making purchasing decisions. By engaging with problems like this, we develop these skills and become more confident in our ability to handle mathematical challenges.