How do you calculate the total cost of 5 items at £3 each?

To calculate the total cost of 5 items at £3 each, multiply 5 by 3 to get £15.

When you need to find the total cost of multiple items that are all priced the same, you use multiplication. In this case, each item costs £3, and you have 5 items. The multiplication sum you need to do is 5 times 3.

Here's how it works step-by-step:
1. Identify the cost of one item, which is £3.
2. Identify the number of items you have, which is 5.
3. Multiply the number of items by the cost of one item: 5 × 3.

When you multiply 5 by 3, you get 15. Therefore, the total cost for 5 items at £3 each is £15.

This method is very useful because it saves time compared to adding £3 five times (3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3). Multiplication is a quicker way to find the total when you have several items at the same price. This is a basic arithmetic skill that you will use often, whether you're shopping, budgeting, or solving maths problems.