Since it is 16.50 each and they bought 5 packets total an easy way to solve this problem would be that you multiply 16.50 × 5 which will give you how much the total cost of the candy would be:
16.50 × 5 = 82.50
Since that is the total amount you would then divide 82.50 by 3 since Mary and her friends all split the cost three ways (since there are three of them):
