In a class of 80 students and 5 teachers, each student receives shopping coupons equal to 15% of the total number of students and each teacher receives coupons equal to 25% of the total number of students; how many shopping coupons are there in all?

Introduction / Context:
This problem tests the ability to apply percentage calculations in a combinational situation involving different groups, here students and teachers. Each group receives shopping coupons calculated as a percentage of the total number of students, which may feel unusual at first glance. Such questions train students to read carefully, identify the correct base for each percentage, and then add the contributions from different groups.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Total number of students = 80.
• Total number of teachers = 5.
• Each student gets coupons equal to 15% of the total number of students.
• Each teacher gets coupons equal to 25% of the total number of students.
• The total number of coupons is the sum of coupons distributed to all students and all teachers.

Concept / Approach:
The important point is that the percentage for coupons is calculated on the total number of students, not on the number of people in each group. For students, we first compute how many coupons a single student receives, then multiply by the number of students. We repeat the same for each teacher. Finally, we add both results to get the complete count. Using the total number of students as the base for each percentage is crucial for accuracy.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Total students = 80, so 15% of total students = 0.15 * 80 = 12.Each student receives 12 coupons.Total coupons for students = 80 * 12 = 960.For teachers, 25% of total students = 0.25 * 80 = 20.Each teacher receives 20 coupons.Total coupons for teachers = 5 * 20 = 100.Combined total coupons = 960 + 100 = 1060.

Verification / Alternative check:
We can verify using a different view. Consider that there are two types of recipients: 80 students and 5 teachers. Each student gets 12 coupons and each teacher gets 20 coupons. Sum up the coupons for all individuals: for students, 80 times 12 is correct as 8 times 12 is 96 and hence 80 times 12 is 960. For teachers, 5 times 20 is 100. Adding 960 and 100 clearly gives 1060. There is no hidden condition or overlapping count, so this total is reliable.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
960 counts only the coupons given to students and ignores the teachers completely, so it is incomplete.

100 considers only the teachers and leaves out the much larger portion given to students.

1000 is a random intermediate value that does not equal the actual sum of 960 and 100 and therefore does not reflect correct computations.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students mistakenly take 15% and 25% of the combined total of 85 people instead of taking these percentages of the 80 students. Others also misread the statement and think that each student gets 15 coupons or each teacher gets 25 coupons directly without using any percentage. Carefully identifying the base quantity for percentage calculations and reading phrases like “of the total number of students” are vital skills for avoiding errors in exams.

Final Answer:
The total number of shopping coupons distributed is 1060.