Will bought 3 college textbooks. One cost $32, one cost $45, and one cost $39. What is the average price of his books? Choose the statement that correctly calculates the average.
A) $32+$45+$39 \div 3
B) ($32+$45+$39) \div 3
C) $32 \div 3+$45 \div 3+$39
D) 3 \times $32+$45+$39
Answer (1)
Add the prices of the textbooks: $32 + $45 + $39 = $116 .
Divide the sum by the number of textbooks: $116 ÷ 3 = $38.67 .
The correct expression is ( $32 + $45 + $39 ) ÷ 3 .
The average price of the textbooks is $38.67 .
Explanation
Understanding the Problem Let's analyze the problem. Will bought three textbooks with different prices: $32, $45, and $39. We need to find the average price of these textbooks. The average price is calculated by summing the prices of all textbooks and dividing by the number of textbooks.
Setting up the Calculation To find the average price, we need to add the prices of the three textbooks and then divide the sum by 3. The correct expression for this calculation is: ( $32 + $45 + $39 ) ÷ 3
Calculating the Average Price Now, let's perform the calculation: First, add the prices: $32 + $45 + $39 = $116 Then, divide the sum by 3: $116 ÷ 3 = $38.67 (rounded to the nearest cent)
Identifying the Correct Option The correct expression to calculate the average price is ( $32 + $45 + $39 ) ÷ 3 , which corresponds to option B.
Stating the Final Answer The average price of the textbooks is $38.67.
Examples
Understanding averages is crucial in everyday life. For instance, if you want to know your average spending on groceries per week, you would add up your grocery expenses for several weeks and divide by the number of weeks. Similarly, calculating the average test score in a class helps determine the overall performance of the students. Averages provide a simple way to summarize and compare data, making them a fundamental tool in various fields.
