1. **State the problem:** Maya bought two watermelons weighing 2.036 pounds and 7.8 pounds respectively. We need to find the total weight of the watermelons. 2. **Formula used:** To find the total weight, we add the weights of the two watermelons: $$\text{Total weight} = \text{Weight}_1 + \text{Weight}_2$$ 3. **Apply the formula:** $$\text{Total weight} = 2.036 + 7.8$$ 4. **Perform the addition:** $$2.036 + 7.8 = 9.836$$ 5. **Conclusion:** Maya bought a total of **9.836 pounds** of watermelon.