Question

If erasers cost $0.25 each, at most how many erasers can be purchased for n dollars, where n is an integer?

• A. \( \frac{n}{25} \)
• B. \( \frac{n}{4} \)
• C. 4n
• D. 25n
• E. \( \frac{25n}{4} \)

Hint:

Dividing by a decimal can be tricky. It's often easier to convert the decimal to a fraction first. Dividing by a fraction is the same as multiplying by its reciprocal. For example, dividing by 0.25 is the same as multiplying by 4.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question asks us to find the maximum number of items that can be bought given the total amount of money and the cost per item.
Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
The number of items can be found by dividing the total amount of money by the cost per item. \[ \text{Number of items} = \frac{\text{Total money}}{\text{Cost per item}} \] Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
We are given: Total money = \( n \) dollars. Cost per item = $0.25. Let's substitute these values into the formula: \[ \text{Number of erasers} = \frac{n}{0.25} \] To simplify this expression, we can express the decimal 0.25 as a fraction. \[ 0.25 = \frac{1}{4} \] So, the number of erasers is: \[ \frac{n}{1/4} = n \times \frac{4}{1} = 4n \] Since \(n\) is an integer, \(4n\) will also be an integer, representing the exact number of erasers that can be purchased.
Step 4: Final Answer:
The maximum number of erasers that can be purchased for \(n\) dollars is \(4n\).