Final answer:
To calculate the total cost of popcorn shared by Vicki and her two friends, multiply the individual payment of $3.50 by the total number of people, resulting in a total cost of $10.50.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asking about how to calculate the total cost of a bucket of popcorn that Vicki and her friends decided to share at the movies. Since Vicki and each of her two friends paid $3.50, you would multiply that amount by the number of people to find the total cost. In this case, the equation would be c = 3.50 × 3, where c represents the total cost of the popcorn.
To solve for c, multiply $3.50 by 3 which equals $10.50. Therefore, c = $10.50.