Final answer:
The unit price for a can of baked beans is $3.50. To find the cost of 4 cans, you multiply the unit price by the quantity, resulting in a total cost of $14.00. This basic arithmetic concept demonstrates how unit prices facilitate the calculation of total costs for various quantities of items.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the realm of basic arithmetic and unit price calculations, understanding how to determine the cost of a given number of items is fundamental. Let's consider a scenario where a student is presented with the task of computing the cost of canned baked beans. If the total cost for 10 cans of baked beans is $35, the student can employ a straightforward method to ascertain the cost per can. By dividing the total cost by the number of cans, in this case, $35/10, the student finds that each can costs $3.50.
To extend this understanding to calculate the cost of a different quantity, say 4 cans, the student employs multiplication. The logic is simple: take the cost per can, which is $3.50, and multiply it by the desired quantity of cans, in this instance, 4. The calculation would be $3.50 × 4, resulting in a total cost of $14.00 for 4 cans.
This process not only reinforces basic arithmetic skills but also introduces the concept of unit prices. The student learns to manipulate these unit prices to determine the total cost for varying quantities of items, providing a practical and applicable skill set for real-world situations. As the student progresses, these foundational arithmetic principles serve as building blocks for more complex mathematical concepts and problem-solving scenarios. Overall, this exercise cultivates a solid understanding of unit prices and their application in calculating total costs, laying the groundwork for more advanced mathematical comprehension.