Question

You buy a pair of shoes for \(\$ 42.99\), a shirt for \(\$ 14.50\), eand a pair of jeans for \(\$ 29.99 .\) You have a coupon for \(\$ 10\) off your purchase How much did you spend? (Review 1.3)

Short answer

The total amount spent after applying the given discount is \(\$77.48\)

Step-by-step solution

Calculating the Total Purchase Amount

Begin by adding together the cost of the pair of shoes, the shirt and the jeans. This will look like this: \(42.99 + 14.50 + 29.99\)

Apply the Discount

This step involves subtracting the available discount from the total purchase amount calculated in step 1. With a $10 coupon, the equation will look like this: \(87.48 - $10\).

Final Calculation

Carry out the subtraction, the answer obtained is the total amount spent after the discount.

Key concepts

Algebraic Expressions

In everyday math problems, such as calculating the amount spent during a shopping trip, algebraic expressions can be vital tools for simplifying and solving the question at hand. An algebraic expression is a combination of variables, numbers, and operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. For instance, if we look at the exercise involving the purchase of shoes, a shirt, and jeans, we represent the total cost as an algebraic expression: \(42.99 + 14.50 + 29.99\).When you encounter numbers and transaction details like these, they can be translated into an algebraic expression, which sets the stage for mathematical operations to be performed. Remember, the expression itself is not the solution but rather a step towards reaching the final answer, which in real-world scenarios, reflects amounts of money to be paid or saved.
To improve your understanding of algebraic expressions, practice identifying the parts of the expression. In the shopping problem, the numbers represent the cost of individual items and are referred to as constants since they don’t change. Addition is the operation used to combine these costs into a single total.

Simple Arithmetic

When working with math problems that require you to determine how much was spent or saved, using simple arithmetic is usually the next step after setting up your algebraic expression. Simple arithmetic involves basic math operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. In the context of the exercise, we first added the cost of the shoes, shirt, and jeans to find the total purchase amount without any discounts. The arithmetic operation used here was addition.After adding the prices together, we then apply a subtraction because of the coupon. It's essential to carry out each step methodically, ensuring accuracy, especially when dealing with currency to reflect the correct total spent. It's these foundational arithmetic skills that enable us to manage everyday transactions effectively.

• Add all individual prices to find the total purchase amount.
• Subtract any discounts or coupons from the total amount to find the final price paid.

Practicing simple arithmetic by solving a variety of problems can build confidence and improve your ability to quickly and accurately manage your finances.

Applying Discounts

Applying discounts to purchases can sometimes be confusing, but it's simply another arithmetic operation. A discount reduces the original price of an item or the total bill. In the provided exercise, the discount comes in the form of a \(\(10\) coupon, which we subtract from the total purchase amount. The algebraic expression for applying this discount is \(87.48 - 10\).Understanding how to apply discounts can help you determine how much money you save during transactions and is a valuable skill in financial literacy. Here's a simple guideline on applying a discount:

• Identify the amount to be discounted – in this case, the \(\)10\) coupon.
• Subtract the discount from the total cost calculated from adding up all items' prices.
• Ensure you always subtract the discount from the original total to find out the final amount paid, which reflects the savings applied.

By mastering the concept of applying discounts, you can manage better and understand your expenses, leading to smarter spending habits.