How Many Cookies Were There in Total if Wade Put 3 Cookies on Each of the 7 Trays?
Imagine a scenario where Wade, a cookie enthusiast, decides to distribute his freshly baked cookies on several trays. He places three cookies on each tray and uses seven trays in total. The question that arises is, how many cookies did Wade have in total? This simple multiplication problem can be solved easily, but it also provides an opportunity to delve into the concept of multiplication and its real-world applications. Let’s explore this further.
Understanding the Problem
The problem at hand is a basic multiplication problem. Wade has 7 trays and puts 3 cookies on each tray. To find out the total number of cookies, we need to multiply the number of trays by the number of cookies on each tray. In mathematical terms, this can be represented as 7 (trays) * 3 (cookies) = 21 cookies.
Breaking Down the Multiplication Process
Multiplication is one of the four basic operations in arithmetic, along with addition, subtraction, and division. It’s essentially repeated addition. In this case, we’re adding the number ‘3’ seven times. Here’s how it works:
- First, we start with 3 cookies (the number of cookies on one tray).
- Then, we add 3 more cookies for the second tray, making it 6 cookies in total.
- We continue this process until we’ve added 3 cookies for all 7 trays.
By the end of this process, we have a total of 21 cookies.
Applying Multiplication in Real Life
While this problem may seem simple, it’s a practical example of how multiplication is used in everyday life. Whether you’re baking cookies like Wade, planning a party, or buying groceries, multiplication helps you calculate quantities quickly and efficiently.
Conclusion
So, if Wade put 3 cookies on each of the 7 trays, he had a total of 21 cookies. This simple problem not only helps us understand the concept of multiplication but also highlights its practical applications. Whether you’re a student trying to grasp the basics of multiplication or an adult looking for a refresher, real-world examples like this can make learning and understanding math much easier.