Ellen was working on a problem for homework. The problem said:
" Mrs. Hall spends $3.00 each week on coffee. 
By the 4th week she had spent $12.
In what week will she have spent a total of $21 ? "

Ellen's answer was -- Week 7
 

  Ellen gave her teacher this response:
  " I figured out the pattern. 
     If Mrs. Hall spent $3 each week,
           * by Week 5 she had spent $15;
           * by Week 6, $18;
           * and by Week 7, she had spent $21.
 

Ted was working on a problem on his math test. The problem said:
" Mae has 8 blue beads. She has 3 times as many white beads as blue beads.
How many white beads does she have ? "

Ted writes "24 beads" as his answer.
 

  Ted writes:
        " I know that Mae has 8 blue beads, and 3  
           times as many white beads.  That means  
           that I should multiply 8 by 3. "

                         8 x 3 = 24 beads
 

Ben read a problem in his workbook. The problem said:
" Kristy had a party for 6 friends. 
Her mom made a party bag for each friend.
Each bag contains 4 pencils, 2 erasers, and 3 stickers.
How many pencils did they need for all 5 bags ? "

Ben's answer was 24 pencils.
 

     " I knew that the 2 erasers and 3 stickers   
        were extra details that I didn't need to
        use.
        So I used the remaining information
        (6 party bags and 4 pencils in each bag).
        I multiplied 6 x 4.

                    6 x 4 = 24 pencils in all.
 

    Be able to give reasons for your answers.