Conquer the 2025 TEAS Math Challenge – Master the Essentials and Ace That Test!

To determine the correct answer regarding the total amount the roommates used to purchase the birthday gift, it's important to analyze the context and logic behind the estimation.

When estimating costs, it is typical to round the individual contributions of each roommate to the nearest whole number for simplicity. If each roommate contributed a certain amount, rounding those figures and then summing them can help find the total spent.

For example, if the roommates’ contributions were assessed with some moderate rounding (e.g., if one contributed $11, another $12, and a third $13), the estimated total sum would involve adding these rounded figures together—yielding an approximation close to $36.

Estimation allows for a quick assessment rather than precise calculations, and the choice of $36 indicates that the contributions were likely close to that rounded figure when added together. The summation aligns with common practices in solving similar word problems that require quick mathematical predictions rather than exact calculations, leading to an estimated total that is robust and reasonable based on typical contributions from multiple parties involved.