You are selling lemonade for $1.50, a bag of kettle corn for $3, and a hot dog for $2.50. How do you write and simplify an expression for the amount of money you receive when #p# people buy one of each item?

1 Answer
Aug 15, 2016

#7p#

Explanation:

Let the number of people be #p#

The amount received from the people buying ONE of each item is written as:

Money received = #1.5xxp + 3xxp +2.5xxp#

=#1.5p +3p + 2.5p = 7p#

Or you can work it out according to the money that each one of the people spent.

Cost of one lemonade, one bag and one hot dog
= #1.5+3+2.5 = 7#

Money received from #p# people = #7xxp = 7p#

Although the two answers are the same, each method uses a different way of thinking.