Stoney Hollow Middle School is taking a field trip to the zoo. There are 109 fifth graders, 115 sixth graders, and 118 seventh graders. There are 4 teachers and 2 parents from each grade coming along to chaperone on the trip. There are 72 seats on each school bus. How many buses are needed for the field trip?
Thoughts? Step-by-step reasoning:
There are 109 fifth graders + 115 sixth graders + 118 seventh graders = 342 students going on the trip. There are 4 teachers + 2 parents = 6 adults going on the field trip for each grade. There are 3 grades going, so 3 grades x 6 adults / grade = 18 total adults going on the trip. There are 342 students + 18 adults = 360 people going on the trip. So, 360 people / 72 seats = 5 buses.
Thus, the answer is 5.