Final answer:
Each of the three friends paid $12.00 to cover their share of a $72.00 total bill, given that the total bill was divided equally between five friends, with two friends paying one-half together and the other three paying the remaining half.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question involves dividing a total bill among a group of friends, which requires basic arithmetic skills. The total bill is $72.00, which includes tax and tip, and it needs to be divided among five friends. Two of the friends paid half of the bill, and the other three friends paid the other half. To calculate the amount each of the three friends has to pay, we need to divide the remaining half of the bill by three.
To find the amount each of the three friends paid:
- Divide the total bill by two to find out how much one-half of the bill is: $72.00 / 2 = $36.00.
- Divide that half among the three friends: $36.00 / 3 = $12.00 per friend.
Therefore, each of the three friends paid $12.00.