5. QUESTION

Max has 2.5 times the number of marbles that Jacob has. Jacob has 34 marbles. Steven has 0.2 times the number of marbles that Max has. How many marbles does Steven have?

 Step 1: Interpret the problem

First, we must understand what is happening in this situation. To find the number of marbles that Steven has, we need to multiply the number of marbles Max has by 0.2.

Step 2: Calculate the number of marbles that Max has

Since Max has 2.5 times the number of marbles Jacob has, we can multiply the number of marbles Jacob has by 2.5. Remember, with decimals, we pretend as if the decimals are not there. We do not line up numbers by their decimal point.

     34

✖ 2.5

Multiply Like Normal

Put the Decimal Place in the Right Location

Since there is 1 number to the right of the decimal point in the problem, there will be 1 number that is behind the decimal in the product. Therefore, the decimal point goes between 5 and 0.

85.0

Since the 0 is after the decimal point, it can also be dropped since it has no value.

So, Max has 85 marbles.

Step 3: Calculate the number of marbles that Steven has

To find the number of marbles Steven has, we can multiply the number of marbles Max has by 0.2. Remember, with decimals, we pretend as if the decimals are not there. We do not line up numbers by their decimal point.

     85

✖ 0.2

Multiply Like Normal

Put the Decimal Place in the Right Location

Since there is 1 number to the right of the decimal point in the problem, there will be 1 number that is behind the decimal in the product. Therefore, the decimal point goes between the 7 and the 0.

17.0

Since the 0 is after the decimal point, it can also be dropped since it has no value.

So, Steven has 17 marbles.