Mathematics
Intermediate
50 mins
Teacher/Student led
+95 XP
What you need:
IWB/Projector/Large Screen

Comparing Prices: Best Value

Learn to work out the price of one item by dividing the total price by pack size, then use this to spot which shop offer really gives better value for money.

Teacher Class Feed

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    1 - Getting Started ~4 mins

    Key point

    Two shelf tags for the same yoghurts: Lidl has a 6-pack for €2.40, and Tesco has an 8-pack for €3.20. Which one is better value?

    Illustration for Getting StartedHands up: what would you need to work out before you could be sure?

    2 - Watch and Notice ~9 mins

    Three comparisons on the board. For each one, watch how we get to the price of one before we decide anything. The first one is a surprise: two very different yoghurt tags.

    Next is a lunch deal. One shop sells 4 sandwiches for €6.00. The other sells 6 of the same sandwich for €8.40. We divide each total price by its pack size to find the cost of one sandwich, then compare those two single prices to see which pack is better value.

    This next one is sold by weight, so counting items will not help. We line both packs up on the same measure: the price of one 100 g piece. The 1 kg block is ten 100 g pieces, and the 250 g block is two-and-a-half 100 g pieces. Watch which pack costs less for the same 100 g, even though one looks dearer at first.

    3 - Try It Together ~8 mins

    Worked example

    Today we work this one together on the board: €3.60 for 3 chocolate bars against €4.80 for 4 of the same bar. We work out the price of one bar for each pack, then tap to reveal the per-unit prices and see how they compare.

    Work out the price of one

    4 - Work Out the Deals in Your Copy ~3 mins

    COPYBOOK MOMENT

    In your maths copy, work out the price of one for each pack on its own line. Show the division for both tags, then circle the better deal. For the water, work out the price of one litre.

    • Bananas: €1.80 for 6 or €2.80 for 10
    • Crisps: €2.50 for 5 bags or €3.60 for 8 bags
    • Water: €1.20 for a 2 litre bottle or €2.00 for a 6 litre bottle

    5 - Class Challenge ~10 mins

    Key point

    Today we work through these four shop comparisons, each one a little harder than the last. For each tag pair, predict the winner before we tap reveal:

    • Eggs: 6 for €2.10 or 12 for €3.60
    • Juice: 1 litre for €1.50 or 2 litres for €2.80
    • Pasta: 500 g for €0.90 or 1 kg for €1.70
    • Kitchen roll: 4 rolls for €3.20 or 6 rolls for €4.20

    Which is the better value?

    Pupil practice
    Module 5 · Time and Money Measures
    Lesson 67 · Comparing Prices: Best Value
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