For the following situation, find the average monthly expense that you would use in budgeting for the given expense. Note: Annual means once a year, and seriannual means twice a year. Sara pays \( \$ 4300 \) for tuition and fees for each of the two semesters, plus an additional \( \$ 410 \) for tertbooks each semester. The average monthly cost for tuition and fees and textooks is 5 . (Round to the nearest dolar as needed.)

To find the average monthly expense for Sara's tuition and textbooks, first calculate the total annual cost. Sara pays \( \$ 4300 \) for tuition and fees for each of the two semesters, totaling \( 2 \times 4300 = \$ 8600 \). For textbooks, she spends \( \$ 410 \) each semester, so that's \( 2 \times 410 = \$ 820 \) for the year. Adding these together gives a total of \( 8600 + 820 = \$ 9420 \) annually. Now, divide that figure by 12 months to get the average monthly cost. \( 9420 \div 12 \approx 785 \). So, Sara's average monthly expense is approximately \( \$ 785 \). If you're budgeting, always round up for any unexpected fees, which can help you avoid surprises during the semester! Also, don’t forget to account for potential inflation in tuition or textbook prices in future semesters to keep your budget even more accurate!