This is a level 4 measurement strand activity from the Figure It Out series.
A PDF of the student activity is included.
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work with rates and make comparison
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FIO, Level 4, Measurement, Book One, Cellphone Confusion, pages 15-16
This activity loosely mirrors the complex deals being offered by cellphone companies. The maths in the activity is quite intricate, and the students will need to read the information with care so that they take all factors into account.
The facts can be collated in a spreadsheet or a table. This will help the students to sort out the information as they answer the questions.
Cellphone companies have their rates posted on the web, so this is where the students should go when answering question 6. A proportion of the class will already be regular cellphone users and will be able to establish a “profile” for themselves against which to check the different plans available.
As an extension activity, your students could create a survey to find out:
This information could be collated and presented using charts or a computer.
As cellphones become more sophisticated, the social implications of their use become greater and more widespread. This activity could be part of a cross-curricular unit using achievement objectives from the science, social studies, and technology curricula. As part of this, students could:
Science
Social Studies
Demonstrate knowledge and understandings of:
Technology
1. a. i. $63.90
Peak calls: 20 min x 0.99 = $19.80
Extra off-peak calls at standard rates: 90 min x 0.49 = $44.10
ii. Text messages: 105 x 0.20 = $21.00
iii. $109.90. (25.00 + 63.90 + 21.00)
b. $1,318.80. (12 x 109.90)
2. a. $45.80
Peak calls: 20 x 0.99 = $19.80
Extra off-peak calls at standard rates: 40 min x 0.65 = $26.00
b. $16.50. (110 x 0.15 = $16.50)
3. a. $62.30
b. $1,017.60.
(3 months x 62.30 a month = $186.90; 9 months x 92.30 = $830.70;
total for the first 12 months is 186.90 + 830.70 = $1,017.60.)
4. a. Busy Lines
b. Yes. (After 24 months at this rate of usage, the charge from YY would be $2,637.60 and the charge from BL would be $2,125.20.)
5. Busy Lines is cheaper in each case.
(12 months: YY = $1,418.80; BL = $1,217.60; 24 months: YY = $2,737.60;
BL = $2,325.20)
6. Results will vary.
Printed from https://meaningfulmaths.nt.edu.au/mmws/nz/resource/cellphone-confusion at 10:31pm on the 26th February 2024