Let's analyze Mara's work step by step to identify her error:
1. Formula Setup:
[tex]\[
\text{Interest} = \text{Principal} \times \text{Rate} \times \text{Time} \text{ (prt)}
\][/tex]
2. Substitution in the formula:
[tex]\[
2666 = 4300 \times 0.062 \times t
\][/tex]
This step is correctly done by Mara.
3. Multiplying Principal and Rate:
[tex]\[
2666 = 266.6 \times t
\][/tex]
This multiplication is also done correctly.
4. Solving for Time ([tex]\( t \)[/tex]):
Mara's incorrect step:
[tex]\[
\frac{266.6}{2666} = t
\][/tex]
Mara divided [tex]\( 266.6 \)[/tex] by [tex]\( 2666 \)[/tex] incorrectly. The correct step should have been:
[tex]\[
t = \frac{2666}{266.6}
\][/tex]
Let's see the correct calculation:
Correct Division:
[tex]\[
t = \frac{2666}{266.6}
\][/tex]
When computed correctly, [tex]\( t = 10 \)[/tex].
So, Mara's error was in the division step. She wrongly divided [tex]\( 266.6 \)[/tex] by [tex]\( 2666 \)[/tex] instead of dividing [tex]\( 2666 \)[/tex] by [tex]\( 266.6 \)[/tex]. Therefore, the correct answer is:
Mara did not divide correctly.
