Final answer:
To find the mass of 3 bags of potatoes, multiply the mass of 1 bag by 3. To find the mass of the bottle of oil, subtract the mass of 3 bags of potatoes from the total mass of the bags of potatoes plus the bottle of oil.
Step-by-step explanation:
(a) To find the mass of 3 bags of potatoes, we can multiply the mass of 1 bag by 3. So, 3 bags of potatoes would have a mass of 3 * 500 g = 1500 g.
(b) To find the mass of the bottle of oil, we need to subtract the mass of 3 bags of potatoes from the total mass of the bags of potatoes plus the bottle of oil. Let's say the total mass of the bags of potatoes plus the bottle of oil is X g. We are given that 3 bags of potatoes are 475 g lighter than the bottle of oil. This can be represented as X - 3 * 500 g = X - 1500 g = 475 g.
Simplifying the equation, we have X = 1975 g. Converting to kilograms, the mass of the bottle of oil is 1.975 kg.