Final answer:
There are 40 tablespoons in 2 1/2 cups, calculated by multiplying the number of half cups in the total volume by the number of tablespoons per half cup (8 tablespoons × 5 half cups = 40 tablespoons).
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asking how many tablespoons are in 2 1/2 cups when given that there are 8 tablespoons in 1/2 cup. First, we need to find out how many half cups are in 2 1/2 cups. We know that 2 cups are equivalent to 4 half cups (since each cup has 2 halves), and the additional 1/2 cup makes a total of 5 half cups.
Now, we can use the unit equivalence provided: 8 tablespoons equal 1/2 cup. Therefore, if one half cup is 8 tablespoons, then 5 half cups would be 5 times as many tablespoons:
8 tablespoons/half cup × 5 half cups = 40 tablespoons.
So, there are 40 tablespoons in 2 1/2 cups.