Final answer:
Ted can afford the purchase of three books for $16.99 each with his $55.00, as the total cost of $50.97 is within his budget.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asking which purchase Ted can afford with $55.00. To determine this, we calculate the total cost of each option and compare it to Ted's available cash.
- Two books for $29.95 each would cost 2 × $29.95 = $59.90, which is more than Ted has.
- Headphones for $29.99 and a portable speaker set for $30.95 would cost a total of $29.99 + $30.95 = $60.94, also more than Ted has.
- An MP3 player for $35.99 and a $20.00 gift card would cost $35.99 + $20.00 = $55.99, which exceeds Ted's budget.
- Three books for $16.99 each would cost 3 × $16.99 = $50.97, which is within Ted's budget.
Therefore, the only purchase Ted can afford with his cash is the option with three books for $16.99 each.