Bryan used the six steps to solve this problem.
| | |
|---|-----------------------|
| A | $14.65 per box |
| B | First box is free, $16.20 for any additional boxes |
On one of the steps, he decided that he would use multiplication and addition to compare the companies and find the best rate. Which step did Bryan use to help him decide?
Answer (2)
Bryan uses multiplication to calculate the total cost from Company A and multiplication and addition (implicitly) to calculate the total cost from Company B, accounting for the free box. He then compares the total costs to find the best rate. This decision to use multiplication and addition occurs in Step 1, where he outlines his approach to the problem.
Explanation
Problem Analysis Let's analyze the problem. Bryan wants to compare the cost of buying boxes from two companies, A and B. Company A charges a fixed price per box, while Company B offers the first box free and charges a different price for subsequent boxes. To determine the best rate, Bryan needs to calculate the total cost for different quantities of boxes from each company and then compare those costs.
Cost Calculation To calculate the total cost for Company A, Bryan would multiply the number of boxes by the price per box. For Company B, he would need to account for the free box and then multiply the number of additional boxes by the price per additional box. Finally, he would compare the total costs from both companies to see which is cheaper.
Identifying the Step Since Bryan is using multiplication and addition to compare the companies, he must be at the stage where he is calculating the total cost for each company. This would involve multiplying the number of boxes by the price per box (or per additional box) and potentially adding costs together (although in this specific scenario, addition is only implicitly used when considering the 'additional' boxes after the first free one for Company B).
Conclusion Therefore, the step where Bryan decides to use multiplication and addition is the step where he is planning how to calculate and compare the costs of the two companies. Since the question only gives us 'Step 1', we can assume that this is the step where he is outlining his approach.
Examples
Imagine you're planning a pizza party and comparing two deals: one charges a flat rate per pizza, and another offers the first pizza free but charges more for each additional one. By calculating the total cost for each deal using multiplication and addition, you can determine which option is cheaper based on the number of pizzas you need. This is similar to Bryan's problem, where understanding the cost structure and using basic arithmetic helps in making the most economical choice.
Bryan used multiplication to calculate the costs of boxes from both Company A and Company B. He decided to use these operations during the step where he outlined his approach to finding the best rate. This is a critical part of his problem-solving process in comparing the two companies' costs.
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