Price of a Slice
(page 159)

back to the Answer Book page

(January 2011) Here are solutions from a class of fifth-graders at Hale Kula Elementary in Wahiawa, Hawaii. Notice that they don't get quite the same answer. So think: what do you like about each answer? Is it clear how they're solving the problem? Can you tell what the answer is?

the cost of a slice is 0.06. i found it by finding the cost of a bag and got 7.45, divide it by 23 to get 0.33, divide it by 6 and got 0.06.


First, I multiplied $1.49 by 5 ("apples cost per kg" and "apples weight") so one bag is $7.45. Since there are 23 apples in a bag and $7.45/23=$.32 with r9 and 9 is less than half of 23 the cost of one apple is $.32. One apple gives 6 slices. Therefore, .32/6=$.05 per slice. To feed 900 kids one apple slice, Blaise will need six bags to feed them. 900/6=150 (total number of slices divided by how many slices per apple: 6); 150/23=6 bags of apples with 21 apples left over (150 apples divided by number of apples per bag). 6 bags will cost $44.70 (6x$7.45).


The cost of a slice is 0.06. To find this answer first I gathered all of the important information. Such as, 23 apples are in a bag, 1 bag weighs 5kg, it's $1.49 per kilogram, and that he is going to cut each apple into six pieces. Next, I multiplied $1.49 by 5 to get $7.45 which is the cost of one bag. Then, I multiplied 23 apples by six slices to get 138 slices per bag. Then, I divided 138 by $7.45 and got $0.06. So that uncovered that the cost of one slice is $0.06. Then, I multiplied 900 students by $0.06 to get $54.00 which is the total cost for the bags. Next, to find how many apples I divided 6 by 900 and got 150. Finally, I divided 23 by 150 to get 6 with an extended decimal so I rounded to 7 and I know that that is how many bags he needs. I had tons of fun doing the problem and can't wait to do the next!

(February 2007) Students from Ohio sent in a solution!

The problem we solved was the Price of a Slice from United We Solve.

The answer is $0.054. I got it by taking 7.45/23, 1 bag equals 5kg, 1 apple equals 6 slices, and 1 bag equals $7.45.

Justin and Larry, Mrs. Wheat’s Applied Math Class, Clayton, Ohio.

eeps comments:

So, readers: did they get it right?

How did they get $7.45? Where did that come from?

And: does $0.054 make any sense? Is that a reasonable cost for a slice of apple?

back to the Answer Book page

last modified February 3, 2011