Maya needs 54 cubic feet of soil for her garden. She already has 4.5 cubic feet of soil. Each bag contains 1.5 cubic feet of soil. How many bags of soil should Maya purchase?
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: Maya should purchase 33 bags of soil.
Explanation:
Maya’s goal is to have a total of 54 cubic feet of soil for her garden. However, she already has 4.5 cubic feet, so she does not need to buy all 54 cubic feet — she only needs to buy the remaining amount.
Step 1: Calculate how much more soil she needs
Soil needed=Total required−Already available\text{Soil needed} = \text{Total required} – \text{Already available} Soil needed=54−4.5=49.5 cubic feet\text{Soil needed} = 54 – 4.5 = 49.5 \text{ cubic feet}
So, Maya still needs 49.5 cubic feet of soil.
Step 2: Determine how many bags are needed
Each bag contains 1.5 cubic feet of soil. To find how many bags she needs, divide the required amount by the size of each bag: Number of bags=49.51.5\text{Number of bags} = \frac{49.5}{1.5} Number of bags=33\text{Number of bags} = 33
So, Maya needs to buy 33 bags of soil.
Why this makes sense:
This is a typical “part-whole” math problem. Maya has a total requirement (the whole), a partial supply already on hand, and a known unit size (the size of each soil bag). The goal is to determine how many full units (bags) are required to meet the remaining need.
This type of real-world math is common in budgeting, shopping, or project planning. It teaches students how subtraction and division can work together to solve multi-step problems. It also helps build numeracy by connecting mathematical concepts to everyday tasks like gardening or home improvement.
By following logical steps — subtract what she already has, then divide by how much each bag provides — Maya can make sure she buys just enough without under- or over-buying.