Question

There are 15 shelves of canned goods in Walmart in one aisle. If each shelf holds 109 canned goods, how many canned goods can that aisle hold? What about in two aisles?

Answer 1

• one aisle: 1635 canned goods
• two aisles: 3270 canned goods

Explanation:

We have to assume each shelf holds the same number of canned goods, and that each aisle does, too.

If 1 shelf holds 109, then 2 shelves hold 109 +109 = 218. We can keep adding 109 until we find the number for 15 shelves. It is easier to multiply:

(15 shelves)(109 canned goods/shelf) = 15·109 canned goods

= 1635 canned goods . . . . in one aisle of 15 shelves

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We can add the capacity of the second aisle (or multiply by 2, whichever is easier) to find the number of canned goods in 2 aisles:

(1635 canned goods/aisle)(2 aisles) = 1635·2 canned goods

= 3270 canned goods . . . . in two aisles