Mirela's Money: Bike, Scooter & Remaining Funds!

Hey guys! Let's dive into a fun math problem! This one's about Mirela and how much money she has left after making some awesome purchases. We'll break it down step-by-step so it's super easy to follow. Get ready to flex those brain muscles! This problem is perfect for helping you understand how to solve similar word problems. It involves simple addition and subtraction – don't worry, we'll make it fun! The cool part is, it's totally relatable. We all love buying things, right? So, let's see how much cash Mirela has left after her shopping spree. This is a great way to practice your math skills and see how they apply in everyday situations. Keep in mind that understanding these basics helps you build a strong foundation for more complex math later on. It's like learning the alphabet before you can write a novel – super important! So, grab your pencil and paper, and let's get started on this exciting mathematical journey. You'll be surprised how quickly you can solve this, and the feeling of accomplishment is awesome!

Understanding the Problem: What's the Story?

Alright, first things first: let's figure out what's going on in this problem. Mirela starts with a certain amount of money, then she goes on a shopping spree and buys a bike and a scooter. Our goal is to find out how much money Mirela has left. To do this, we'll need to calculate how much she spent in total and then subtract that amount from her initial amount. It's like having a budget and keeping track of your spending. The key here is to carefully read the problem and pull out the important pieces of information. This is something that is used in real life. Let’s start with the important data. This initial breakdown helps us to see what steps are necessary to get our final answer. It also helps to eliminate any information that is not important. Take a moment to read the question again, highlighting the key elements that contribute to the answer. Understanding the problem is the first crucial step to finding the correct solution. Plus, it’s a good way to start and helps to make sure you get the right answer at the end. Make sure to identify what the question is asking you to solve – this will be your guiding star throughout the entire process.

Breaking Down the Details

Let’s look at the important pieces of information we have. Mirela begins with 1475 lei (the currency in Romania). She buys a bike for 1200 lei. The problem also states that the scooter cost 987 lei less than the bicycle. This means that to figure out the cost of the scooter, we must subtract 987 from the price of the bike (1200 lei). So, the cost of the scooter is 1200 lei - 987 lei = 213 lei. Once we have the price of the scooter, the next step is to add the price of the bike and the price of the scooter to know the total amount of money Mirela spent on the items. Then we'll subtract the total amount spent from the original amount of money Mirela had. This will reveal the amount of money Mirela has left! See? Simple! By breaking the problem down like this, it becomes a lot less intimidating, right? It's like taking a complex task and breaking it into small, manageable steps. This process allows us to approach the problem in a systematic way, which improves the likelihood of arriving at the correct solution. Always remember to stay organized and label each step clearly – this will prevent any confusion and make it easier to keep track of your calculations. Being organized is a great habit to develop, and it's super useful for all sorts of problem-solving situations, in and out of the classroom.

Solving the Problem: Step-by-Step

Now for the fun part - the actual calculations! This is where we put our math skills to work. We'll go through each step carefully, so you can follow along easily. Let's make sure that we get everything right, step-by-step. Remember, the key is to stay organized and double-check your work. This will ensure that our answer is accurate. We'll start with calculating the cost of the scooter, then calculate the total money spent, and finally figure out how much money Mirela has left. This structured approach helps in avoiding errors. The method we use is a fantastic way to develop your problem-solving abilities. Ready? Let’s do it!

Step 1: Find the Cost of the Scooter

We know the bike cost 1200 lei, and the scooter cost 987 lei less. Therefore, to calculate the cost of the scooter, we subtract 987 lei from the cost of the bike: 1200 lei - 987 lei = 213 lei. So, the scooter cost 213 lei. Good job! We've completed the first step. This step demonstrates the importance of using subtraction to solve the problem. If you’re a visual learner, imagine this: you have the price of the bike, and you need to remove the difference to find the price of the scooter. Remember to always double-check your calculations to ensure accuracy. If you're working on paper, don't forget to neatly write down each step and clearly label all your answers. This will make it easier to review your work. Using this method, helps you understand the problem thoroughly before proceeding to the next one. Understanding the method is key to getting the right answers.

Step 2: Calculate the Total Spending

Now that we know the cost of the bike (1200 lei) and the scooter (213 lei), we need to find the total amount Mirela spent. To do this, add the cost of the bike and the cost of the scooter: 1200 lei + 213 lei = 1413 lei. So, Mirela spent a total of 1413 lei. This step shows how to use addition to find the total sum. It also shows how the price of the bike and the scooter are used to make this calculation. You see, it all adds up! By carefully noting each step, we're building a clear path to the solution. The clarity helps you remember and reapply this method to other problems in the future. Don't be afraid to take your time and make sure each addition is correct. Taking your time makes the process more efficient, and you'll become a better problem solver!

Step 3: Determine the Remaining Money

Finally, let's find out how much money Mirela has left. She started with 1475 lei and spent 1413 lei. To calculate the remaining amount, subtract the total amount spent from the initial amount: 1475 lei - 1413 lei = 62 lei. So, Mirela has 62 lei left! Amazing! We've solved the problem. You can now see the importance of using subtraction. This also shows how to find the difference between the starting money and the total amount spent. You did it! Congratulations on successfully finding out how much money Mirela has left. You’ve now mastered how to solve this kind of math problem. You can feel proud of what you've achieved today! Celebrate the victory!

The Answer and What We Learned

So, after buying the bike and the scooter, Mirela has 62 lei left. Yay! You successfully solved the problem. It’s like a mini-adventure, right? We started with a word problem, broke it down into smaller steps, performed our calculations, and found the answer. It’s a great example of how math can be applied in real-life situations. More importantly, you learned how to systematically approach a problem and break it down to make it easier to solve. You now know how to solve a similar math problem, and it's likely you'll be able to solve others too. Think about it – every time you learn a new skill, you're building a stronger foundation for the future. That’s why practicing regularly is so important. Make sure to try more examples to solidify what you've learned. The more you practice, the easier it becomes. You'll become more confident in your math abilities, and you'll find that solving problems becomes more fun! The next time you encounter a similar problem, you'll know exactly what to do. Keep up the awesome work!