Final answer:
The total cost of purchasing sleeping bags and flashlights can be calculated using variables representing the costs of each item. Variables 's' and 'f' are used for the cost of a single sleeping bag and flashlight, respectively, and by buying certain quantities initially and then additional quantities later, the total cost can be figured out.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the total cost of purchasing sleeping bags and flashlights, we can define variables to represent the cost of a single sleeping bag and a single flashlight. Let s be the cost of one sleeping bag and f be the cost of one flashlight. Initially, 6 sleeping bags and 4 flashlights are purchased, so the initial cost (Time 1 Total Cost) is 6s + 4f. Afterward, 5 more sleeping bags and 3 more flashlights are purchased, so the additional cost (Time 2 Total Cost) is 5s + 3f. To find the total cost for all items, we add the initial and additional costs together, which gives us (6s + 4f) + (5s + 3f) = 11s + 7f.
By substituting realistic prices for s and f, the total expenditure can be calculated. If the list of products were longer and included more realistic prices, the total quantity spent could be a precise number, reflecting the actual expense incurred from the purchases made for the camping trip.