I don't know how to address some of this

A student came to me with his review yesterday.

"Barbara Finch has the following to deposit into her bank account: $1395 in cash, $15.24 in coins and 4 checks: $50.00, $150.75, $45.00 & $75.25."

I showed him how to fill out a deposit slip and how to do the subtotal and total. Then he asks: what do you do with the 4? (As in 4 checks)

Another came to me with this problem: "Edgar purchases these from the hardware store: 2 gallons of paint for $12.00 each, 3 paint brushes for $9.99 each, and a plastic drop cloth for $3.99."

He did the amounts as
12.00 + 2
9.99 + 3
3.99
Then add these together.
(For those of you who do not like math, it should be
12.00 X 2 = 24.00
9.99 X 3 = 29.97
3.99
So 24.00 + 29.97 + 3.99 = 57.96)

This is after working one on one, going over all of the problems as a review. etc.

Egads.