Hanna bought 4 pencils for $.09/each, two notebooks for $1.58 each, and one pack of paper for $3.17 each. She paid with $10 and got $3.58 in change. Is this amount correct, and if not, why?

Question

Just need the WHY part of the answer. The correct change should be $3.31

Answer 1

4 * 0.09 = $0.36
2 * $1.58 = $3.16
1 * 3.17 = $3.17

She spent $6.69

$10 = 6.69 = 3.31

Answer 2

Hm, it's not clear as to what it means by 'why', but if you calculate what 3 pencils would cost, and do the math as if you didn't buy those three pencils, the change will be 3.58. So perhaps with 'why' you could say that the cashier forgot to include the price of three pencils.

Answer 3

We figured that part out. The girl was given $3.58 in change. Why was the error made (this is part of the original question).

Answer 4

The error was made because the clerk made a mistake.

The question is asking you to show your work to show why the change was wrong.

Answer 5

Thanks, L. I know - the "why" is a bit tricky, especially for 5th graders, and my daughter is well ahead of grade level.

I think your answer will probably work well enough.

Answer 6

2 by 3 by 4