The problem presents a budget table with monthly expenses for a family. The goal is to determine the total annual amount they must earn, represented as $b$, to meet their budget.

Monthly expenses:

• Mortgage Payment: $800
• Food: $600
• Transportation: $360
• Childcare: $540
• Health Insurance: $750
• Miscellaneous: $580

Total monthly expenses:

$800 + 600 + 360 + 540 + 750 + 580 = 3,630$

Thus, the family spends $3,630 per month.

Annual expense calculation:

To find the total annual expenses, we multiply the monthly total by 12: $b = 3,630 \times 12 = 43,560$

So, the equation to find $b$ is $b = 3,630 \times 12$, which corresponds to option A in the provided answer choices.

Would you like further explanation or have any questions?

Here are 5 related questions:

1. How would the calculation change if one of the expenses increased?
2. What is the formula for calculating weekly expenses from annual income?
3. How do you convert a daily budget into an annual total?
4. What would be the new total if health insurance costs dropped by $50 monthly?
5. How can this budget be adjusted if the family wants to save 10% of their income?

Tip: Always break down larger financial problems by calculating monthly totals first, then annual totals for easier budgeting.