Mathematics
Grade 6
15 min
Unit prices: which is the better buy?
Unit prices: which is the better buy?
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1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define unit price and explain its importance.
Calculate the unit price of an item given its total price and quantity.
Compare the unit prices of two or more items to identify the 'better buy'.
Apply unit price calculations to real-world shopping scenarios.
Make informed purchasing decisions based on unit price comparisons.
Explain how unit prices help consumers save money.
Have you ever stood in a store aisle, wondering if the giant box of cereal is really cheaper than two smaller ones? 🤔 Let's learn how to be super smart shoppers!
In this lesson, you'll discover the secret to finding the best deals by understanding 'unit prices'. We'll learn how to calculate the cost per single unit of an item and use this skill to co...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Unit PriceThe cost of a single unit of an item. It tells you how much you pay for one ounce, one pound, one liter, or one item.If a 6-pack of soda costs $3.00, the unit price is $0.50 per can (or per unit).
Total PriceThe overall cost of an item or a package of items before any discounts or taxes.The total price for a bag of 5 apples is $2.50.
QuantityThe amount or number of items in a package or for sale.A box of 12 pencils has a quantity of 12 pencils.
Better BuyThe item or option that offers the lowest unit price, meaning you get more for your money.If Brand A cereal costs $0.15 per ounce and Brand B costs $0.12 per ounce, Brand B is the better buy.
RatioA comparison of two quantities by division. Unit price is a type of ratio comparing price to quantity.The ratio...
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Core Formulas
Unit Price Formula
\text{Unit Price} = \frac{\text{Total Price}}{\text{Quantity}}
To find the unit price, divide the total cost of an item by the number of units it contains. This will give you the cost per single unit.
Identifying the Better Buy
\text{Better Buy} \implies \text{Lowest Unit Price}
After calculating the unit prices for different options, the item with the smallest unit price is the better buy because it offers the most value for your money.
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Challenging
The unit price for a bag of apples is $0.75 per apple. If the total price of the bag is $6.00, how many apples are in the bag?
A.6 apples
B.8 apples
C.10 apples
D.4 apples
Challenging
Store A sells a 2-pound bag of carrots for $3.20. Store B sells a 24-ounce bag of carrots for $2.40. Given that 1 pound = 16 ounces, which store offers the better buy?
A.Store B
B.Store A
C.They have the same unit price.
D.It's impossible to compare them.
Challenging
A 12-ounce bottle of juice costs $C. A 32-ounce bottle of the same juice costs $D. Which inequality must be true for the 32-ounce bottle to be the better buy?
A.D/12 < C/32
B.C/12 < D/32
C.32/D < 12/C
D.D/32 < C/12
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