If pencils are priced at 3 for a half-dollar, how much can you by for $2.50?

Answer 1

Well, if three pencils are purchased for $.50, then we need to see how many times $.50 goes into $2.50. So, we divide 2.50/.50=5. The answer is 5. Now we know that each $.50 contains 3 pencils. Therefore, we have 5 groups of three pencils. So, we multiply the 3 pencils in each group by the 5 groups. 3x5=15. The answer is 15 pencils!

Answer 2

This can be solved by setting up and solving a proportion

Let x = number of pencils

3 pencils/$0.50 = x pencils/$2.50

To solve, cross multiply

0.50x = 3(2.50) Simplify

0.50x = 7.50 Divide both sides by 0.50

0.50x/0.50 = 7.50/0.50 Simplify

x = 15 pencils