National 5 Lifeskills Best value purchasing factors Xmas Maths word problems

National 5 Lifeskills

3 page Word document with a series of extended, non-calculator word problems relating to ingredient costs, labour costs, transport costs etc involved in making a xmas cake. Three different shops can sell the student differing amounts of an ingredient with different special offers. Some shops are further away to travel to and may or may not offer home delivery. Students must calculate the cost of the same amount of the ingredient from each shop. Opportunity cost in terms of having to sacrifice time in paid employment to make the cake must also be incorporated into their calculations. Students are challenged to identify factors which influence purchasing behaviour and to explain the ways in which these may influence their decisions. There are bonus questions related to finding cost per slice and then cost per slice when incorporating some food waste. Students are asked to put together a justification for buying a ready-made cake compared to making it. Transport cost calculations require an understanding of distance, speed and time. Simple percentages and fractions are also involved.