Carmen And Her Mom Collect Cans Of Food For A Food Drive. Carmen Collects 5 Times As Many Cans Of Food As Her Mom. Together, They Collect 60 Cans Of Food. Which Equation Can You Solve To Find The Number Of Cans Of Food Carmen's Mom Collects?A. $5x

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Carmen and her Mom's Food Drive: A Math Problem

In this article, we will explore a math problem involving Carmen and her mom collecting cans of food for a food drive. We will use algebraic equations to solve for the number of cans of food Carmen's mom collects. This problem is a great example of how math can be applied to real-life situations.

Carmen collects 5 times as many cans of food as her mom. Together, they collect 60 cans of food. We need to find the number of cans of food Carmen's mom collects.

Let's Break it Down

Let's say the number of cans of food Carmen's mom collects is x. Since Carmen collects 5 times as many cans of food as her mom, the number of cans of food Carmen collects is 5x.

The Equation

We know that together, they collect 60 cans of food. This can be represented by the equation:

x + 5x = 60

Simplifying the Equation

We can simplify the equation by combining like terms:

6x = 60

Solving for x

To solve for x, we need to isolate x on one side of the equation. We can do this by dividing both sides of the equation by 6:

x = 60/6

x = 10

Therefore, Carmen's mom collects 10 cans of food.

This problem is a great example of how math can be applied to real-life situations. It involves algebraic equations and variables, which are essential concepts in mathematics. By solving this problem, we have demonstrated how to use algebra to find the solution to a real-world problem.

Real-World Applications

This problem has real-world applications in various fields, such as:

  • Food drives: This problem is relevant to food drives, where people collect cans of food to donate to those in need.
  • Algebra: This problem involves algebraic equations and variables, which are essential concepts in mathematics.
  • Problem-solving: This problem requires problem-solving skills, which are essential in various fields, such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Tips and Variations

Here are some tips and variations to this problem:

  • Change the number of cans: Instead of 60 cans of food, let's say they collect 120 cans of food. How would this change the equation?
  • Change the ratio: Instead of 5 times as many cans, let's say Carmen collects 3 times as many cans as her mom. How would this change the equation?
  • Add more variables: Let's say there are two more people collecting cans of food. How would this change the equation?

In conclusion, this problem is a great example of how math can be applied to real-life situations. It involves algebraic equations and variables, which are essential concepts in mathematics. By solving this problem, we have demonstrated how to use algebra to find the solution to a real-world problem.
Carmen and her Mom's Food Drive: A Math Problem Q&A

In our previous article, we explored a math problem involving Carmen and her mom collecting cans of food for a food drive. We used algebraic equations to solve for the number of cans of food Carmen's mom collects. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to this problem.

Q: What is the equation to find the number of cans of food Carmen's mom collects? A: The equation is x + 5x = 60, where x is the number of cans of food Carmen's mom collects.

Q: How do I simplify the equation? A: To simplify the equation, combine like terms: 6x = 60.

Q: How do I solve for x? A: To solve for x, divide both sides of the equation by 6: x = 60/6.

Q: What is the value of x? A: The value of x is 10, which represents the number of cans of food Carmen's mom collects.

Q: What if I change the number of cans? A: If you change the number of cans to 120, the equation becomes x + 5x = 120. To solve for x, simplify the equation: 6x = 120, and then divide both sides by 6: x = 120/6.

Q: What if I change the ratio? A: If you change the ratio to 3 times as many cans, the equation becomes x + 3x = 60. To solve for x, simplify the equation: 4x = 60, and then divide both sides by 4: x = 60/4.

Q: Can I add more variables? A: Yes, you can add more variables to the equation. For example, if there are two more people collecting cans of food, the equation becomes x + 5x + y + 3y = 60, where x is the number of cans of food Carmen's mom collects, y is the number of cans of food the second person collects, and 3y is the number of cans of food the third person collects.

Q: What is the real-world application of this problem? A: The real-world application of this problem is in food drives, where people collect cans of food to donate to those in need. This problem demonstrates how math can be applied to real-life situations.

Q: What are some tips for solving this problem? A: Some tips for solving this problem include:

  • Read the problem carefully: Make sure you understand what the problem is asking.
  • Identify the variables: Identify the variables in the problem, such as x and y.
  • Simplify the equation: Simplify the equation by combining like terms.
  • Solve for the variable: Solve for the variable by dividing both sides of the equation by the coefficient of the variable.

In conclusion, this Q&A article provides answers to frequently asked questions related to the math problem involving Carmen and her mom collecting cans of food for a food drive. We hope this article helps you understand the problem and its solutions.