Question. It takes 15 mink skins to make a coat. Andy buys 30 minks and each mink has 6 babies, but half the total minks are set free by activists. How many coats can he make?
Answer. 7
What step-by-step reasoning justifies that answer?
Reasoning: First find the total number of baby minks: 30 minks * 6 babies / mink = 180 minks. Add this to the number of adult minks: 180 minks + 30 minks = 210 minks. Then divide this number in half to find how many aren't set free: 210 minks / 2 = 105 minks. Then divide the remaining number of minks by the number of minks per coat to find the number of coats: 105 minks / 15 minks / coat = 7 coats.