If a pencil costs $2 and you buy 3 pencils, how much money do you spend?

To determine the total cost when buying 3 pencils at the price of $2 each, you multiply the cost of one pencil by the number of pencils purchased. The calculation is as follows:

Total Cost = Cost per Pencil × Number of Pencils

Total Cost = $2 × 3 = $6

Thus, the total amount spent on the pencils is $6. This approach demonstrates a fundamental principle of multiplication, which is essential for making calculations related to purchases in everyday scenarios.