\( \left. \begin{array} { c c } { 3 c + 2.5 p } & { = } \\ { 3 ( \square ) + 2.5 p } & { = } \end{array} \right. \)

Did you know that equations like this can represent real-life scenarios? For instance, you might have a budget where \( c \) stands for the cost of something and \( p \) represents the price of another item. This equation helps us balance our expenses depending on how many items we plan to purchase! When solving equations, keep an eye out for common mistakes like forgetting to apply the same operation across the equation. If you add or subtract one side, be sure to do the same to the other to maintain balance—think of it like a seesaw, where both sides need to be equal to keep it level!