Question

Alan needs 7 quarters to do his laundry. What is the most he could spend from a \(\$ 20.00\) bill and still have enough left to wash his clothes? A. \(\$ 1.75\) B. \(\$ 2.86\) C. \(\$ 16.75\) D. \(\$ 18.25\)

Short answer

D. \$18.25

Step-by-step solution

Determine the cost of laundry

First, calculate the total amount of money Alan needs for his laundry. Since 1 quarter is worth \( \$0.25 \) and Alan needs 7 quarters, multiply 7 by \( \$0.25 \) to find the total needed for laundry. \[ 7 \times 0.25 = 1.75 \] This means Alan needs \( \$1.75 \) to do his laundry.

Calculate remaining money

Next, subtract the cost of laundry from the \( \$20.00 \) bill to determine how much Alan has left. \[ 20.00 - 1.75 = 18.25 \] Therefore, Alan has \( \$18.25 \) left after setting aside the money for laundry.

Identify the maximum spending

Since Alan needs \( \$1.75 \) for his laundry, the most he can spend from his \( \$20.00 \) bill and still have enough for the laundry is the amount he has left. This is \( \$18.25 \).

Key concepts

Basic Arithmetic

Basic arithmetic is essential for solving many everyday problems. In Alan's laundry problem, we use simple multiplication and subtraction. Multiplication helps us find how much money Alan needs for his quarters. One quarter is worth \(0.25. Since he needs 7 quarters, we multiply: \textbf{Multiplication:} 7 \times 0.25 = 1.75 Next, subtraction helps us find how much money Alan has left after setting aside the money for laundry. Starting with a \)20.00 bill, and subtracting the laundry cost: \textbf{Subtraction:} 20.00 - 1.75 = 18.25 These basic arithmetic skills ensure we get the correct answer and can confidently solve similar problems.

Money Calculation

Money calculation involves determining how much money is needed, how much is available, and how much can be used without depleting necessary funds. In Alan's case, he needs to carefully budget his \(20.00 to ensure he has enough for laundry. \textbf{Step-by-step Money Calculation:} - Calculate the amount needed for laundry: 7 quarters (7 \times 0.25 = 1.75). - Subtract this total from the \)20.00 bill to find the remaining balance (20.00 - 1.75 = 18.25). Following these calculation steps allows Alan to understand his spending capacity. This way, he ensures he does not run out of money needed to wash his clothes, demonstrating the importance of managing money wisely.

Word Problems

Word problems require us to extract mathematical information from a given scenario. This can be tricky, but breaking it down step-by-step makes it manageable. Here’s how to approach the word problem given: \textbf{Breaking Down the Problem:} - Identify what you need to find: The maximum Alan can spend and still have enough money for laundry. - Translate words into numbers: 7 quarters needed translates into \(1.75 (7 \times 0.25 = 1.75). - Perform necessary calculations: Subtract the laundry cost from the total money available to find the remaining amount (20.00 - 1.75 = 18.25). - Interpret the result: The most Alan can spend from his \)20.00 bill and still have enough for laundry is $18.25. Solving word problems involves careful reading, identifying key information, translating words to math, performing calculations, and interpreting results.