Mathematics / Year 7 / Number and Algebra / Money and financial mathematics

Curriculum content descriptions

Investigate and calculate 'best buys', with and without digital technologies (ACMNA174)

Elaborations
  • applying the unitary method to identify ‘best buys’ situations, such as comparing the cost per 100g
General capabilities
  • Literacy Literacy
  • Numeracy Numeracy
  • Critical and creative thinking Critical and creative thinking
  • ICT capability Information and Communication Technology (ICT) capability
ScOT terms

Proportions,  Purchasing,  Unit cost

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reSolve: Paint with Numbers

This sequence of three lessons explores ratios through the context of mixing paint. Students investigate how ratios express a multiplicative relationship between two measures and under what conditions the proportions remain constant when the numerical values of both quantities change. The lessons are outlined in detail ...

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reSolve: Modelling Motion - Year 7

This sequence of seven lessons challenges students to use simple equipment to predict, observe and represent motion. They create a series of graphs to represent motion and construct instruments to measure forces in one and then two dimensions. They interpret these representations to develop concepts of force and motion. ...

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Using Pythagoras' Theorem (Simulation)

An interactive simulation in which students use Pythagoras' theorem can be used to find distances.

Downloadable

The wide wide world of sports betting

This lesson explores the difference between perfectly predictable events (like the roll of a die) and less certain events (such as sports). Students investigate mathematically how sports bookmakers create odds to guarantee themselves a profit and pay gamblers less for a win than they deserve. The lesson is outlined in ...

Interactive

The foul food maker: go figure

This tutorial is suitable for use with a screen reader. It explains how the use of simple words can describe the likelihood of everyday events. How likely is an event: certain, likely, equal chance, unlikely or certainly not? Answer some questions using these words and then build your own examples. Learn how to describe ...

Interactive

The Numberline

An interactive tool that can help students explore a number line, including points representing integers, fractions and decimals

Interactive

The Mathematical Toolkit

A 2D Shapes tool that can be used to create geometric objects such as quadrilaterals, circles, triangles, lines, arcs, rays, segments and vectors on a coordinate grid. Plot and label the vertices to reveal the internal angles, side lengths, area and perimeter, then manipulate the shapes on a grid to transform their shape ...

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Tax, Super + You

Tax, Super + You is designed to provide teachers and parents with practical resources to help students in Years 7-12 understand the value of tax and superannuation, and have confidence when entering the workforce. Registration for a free account is required to access the full suite of materials.

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TIMES Module 20: Number and Algebra: percentages - teacher guide

This is a 15-page guide for teachers. This module introduces percentages and their many uses in science, commerce and measurement.

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TIMES Module 18: Number and Algebra: decimals and percentages - teacher guide

This is a 21-page guide for teachers containing an introduction to decimals and percentages. It shows how place value is extended to describe positive numbers less than one. It also explores how to represent decimals on the number line, compare decimals, undertake the four basic arithmetic operations with decimals and change ...

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TIMES Module 17: Number and Algebra: the unitary method - teacher guide

This is an 18-page guide for teachers. This module introduces the idea of ratios and rates.

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TIMES Module 14: Number and Algebra: fractions - teacher guide

This is a 16-page guide for teachers that provides an introduction to fractions. It covers ordering, the four basic arithmetic operations, cancelling, writing in simplest form, the use of the area model for multiplication and the use of the number line for ordering, adding and subtracting. A history of the development of ...

Interactive

Syllabus Bites: Revisiting proportion

This is the first in a series of Syllabus Bites related to direct and indirect proportion. Students revise the concept of ratio. They create short visual explanations showing how problems can be solved.

Interactive

Syllabus Bites: Graphing direct proportion

This is the third in a series of Syllabus Bites related to direct and indirect proportion. Students draw graphs to represent relationships between variables in direct proportion. They associate the gradient of the graph with the constant of proportionality. They investigate practical contexts that give rise to direct proportion.

Interactive

Syllabus Bites: Direct proportion

This is the second in a series of Syllabus Bites related to direct and indirect proportion. Interactive applets and dynamic geometry software allow students to explore quantities in direct proportion. Students draw conclusions about relationships between the variables and consolidate their understanding by playing a simple game.

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Squirt: three containers

Examine the relationships between capacities of various containers. Look at three containers that may have different diameters, heights and shapes. Fill a container and squirt liquids between the containers to establish the proportional relationship. Work out the third 'unlinked' relationship from two known relationships. ...

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Solving percentage problems

This digital resource is a video demonstration of a procedural method to calculate an unknown quantity, given an amount is a known percentage of the unknown. For a single example, students are presented with an algorithmic, step-by-step, pen-and-paper method. The demonstration is complemented by the presenter's commentary ...

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Secondary mathematics: using real data

These seven learning activities, which focus on the use of 'real data' using a variety of tools (software) and devices (hardware), illustrate the ways in which content, pedagogy and technology can be successfully and effectively integrated in order to promote learning. In the activities, teachers use the three content strands ...

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Secondary mathematics: different representations

These seven learning activities, which focus on 'representations' using a variety of tools (software) and devices (hardware), illustrate the ways in which content, pedagogy and technology can be successfully and effectively integrated in order to promote learning. In the activities, teachers use different representations ...

Video

Rounding decimals to the nearest tenth

This is a digital resource comprising a video demonstration of rounding a decimal fraction to the nearest tenth. The commentary uses and interchanges between the language of decimal places and decimal place values expressed in terms of tenths and hundredths. Practice questions dealing more broadly with rounding numbers ...

Interactive

Rounding decimals

This is a six-page HTML resource about solving problems concerning rounding. It contains one video and eight questions, four of which are interactive. The resource discusses and explains solving problems with rounding of decimals to reinforce students' understanding.

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Rounding decimals

This is a website designed for both teachers and students that addresses rounding of decimal numbers from the Australian Curriculum for year 7 students. It contains material on writing a decimal correct to a number of decimal places and rounding money amounts to the nearest five cents. There are pages for both teachers ...

Interactive

Renovate, Calculate!

A student resource that explores the use of mathematics in the trades. Highly interactive investigations into ratio, areas of special quadrilaterals and right-angled trigonometry.

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Proportional reasoning: Year 7 – planning tool

This planning resource for Year 7 is for the topic of Proportional reasoning. Students are introduced to ratios as a method of comparing quantities. Students learn how to recognise and represent these comparisons to solve problems. The concept of dividing a quantity by a given ratio is also introduced.

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Proportional reasoning video

Use this video as a springboard to explore scaling or proportional thinking, and to apply that thinking in a food context, drawing on reasoning and mathematical modelling.

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Practical numbers: Part 2

In this lesson we use the context of an ancient bazaar to investigate measurement systems. Students select a name and base number for their system of measurement, using weights made from clay or similar material. They divide their clay into possible unit fractions to generate their set of weights. They assign a fictional ...

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Practical numbers: Part 1

In this lesson, students explore standardised measuring systems. They encounter the challenge of a shopkeeper who must determine how to weigh different quantities of spices most efficiently. Working in a financial context, students model this scenario using fractions, percentages and ratios, and communicate their solution ...

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Patterns, rules and graphs

In this lesson, students play games and learn about space and location, the Cartesian plane, pattern recognition and reductive reasoning by playing games and thinking. Students create algebraic equations to describe their strategy. Follow this lesson with Graphs: formulas and variables, though both lessons can be taught ...

Downloadable

Operations: Foundation to Year 9

This comprehensive resource describes the progression of ideas that cover addition and subtraction of integers; multiplication and division of integers; the four operations with common and decimal fractions; and operation applications with percent, rate and ratio.

Downloadable

Number: Foundation to Year 9

This comprehensive resource describes the progression of number-related ideas showing the relationship to other curriculum strands. The resource demonstrates examples of relevant teaching strategies, investigations, activity plans and connected concepts in number including teaching and cultural implications.

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Number sequence: Year 7 – planning tool

This planning resource for Year 7 is for the topic of Number sequence. Students extend their understanding of equivalence of fraction with visual representations such as a number line that extends beyond zero; concrete materials; and common multiples and fraction walls. Students learn to work with equivalence and explore ...

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My Five Cents: Why investing can be risky

Planning to get rich quick by investing one day? Before you jump in, let Gen Fricker explain some of the risks involved with different types of investments. Then test yourself with ASIC MoneySmart's "Things to think about" classroom exercises.  

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My Five Cents: Why borrowing can cost you more

Think credit cards are basically free money? Gen Fricker will make you think again. Learn how interest rates and fees affect the money you borrow, and why they may be more expensive in the long run. Oh dear! Then test yourself with ASIC MoneySmart's "Things to think about" classroom exercises.  

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My Five Cents: What is opportunity cost?

What is the true cost of buying something? Gen Fricker explains that it's more than just money. Learn about opportunity cost - what it is, why it's a helpful tool and when to use it. Simple! Then test yourself with ASIC MoneySmart's "Things to think about" classroom exercises.  

Interactive

Multiplication of decimals by a whole number

This is a four-page HTML resource about solving problems concerning the multiplication of decimals. It contains one video and four questions, two of which are interactive. The resource discusses and explains solving problems involving multiplying a decimal by a whole number to reinforce the students' understanding.

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Multiplication and division of fractions

This is a website designed for both teachers and students that addresses multiplication and division of fractions from the Australian Curriculum for year 7 students. It contains material on multiplication and division of fractions and explains how to deal with whole numbers and mixed numbers when multiplying and dividing ...

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Multiplication and division of decimals

This is a website designed for both teachers and students that addresses multiplication and division of decimals from the Australian Curriculum for year 7 students. It contains material on multiplication and division of decimals and helps students to understand multiplication and division as inverses of each other. There ...

Interactive

MoneySmart: MilbaDjunga - how can I start my own business?

The MilbaDjunga secondary unit 'How can I start my own business?' is an interactive online unit developed to support teachers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to teach consumer and financial literacy. It leads students through a step-by-step process to start a small business and is accompanied by teacher ...

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Modelling climate changes

There is a saying: 'climate is what you expect and weather is what you get'. |Understanding climate change is very difficult for most people, especially when the weather we experience is different from the information we are given by scientists about the climate changing. The difference is that weather reflects short-term ...

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Mixing Lemonade

This resource is a web page containing an interactive task to explore ratios and proportions. Compare different mixtures of lemonade and develop a strategy for deciding which is stronger each time. The task requires students to apply their understanding of ratio and proportions. A 'Getting started' page, 'Solution' and ...

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Maths inside bees and beehives

Bees are necessary for assisting many plants to produce the food we eat, including meat and milk. Colony collapse disorder, which describes the disappearance of beehives, could have catastrophic effects on food production. Australian scientists are applying their maths and science knowledge to build up a picture of a healthy ...

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Mathletes in motion

In this lesson, students use mathematical modelling in measurement (comparing and evaluating sports results) to explain equivalence between fractions, decimals and percentages, and represent rational numbers on a number line.

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Mathematical modelling (Number): Year 7 – planning tool

This planning resource for Year 7 is for the topic of Mathematical modelling. Students use knowledge of the other topics in the Number strand, so that applying knowledge and skills can be modelled. This can be done in groups or as a whole class, as well as individually. Collaborative learning works well for practical problems.

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Mathematical modelling (Measurement): Year 7 – planning tool

This planning resource for Year 7 is for the topic of Mathematical modelling. Students use the mathematical modelling to solve representations of real-world problems.

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MathXplosion, Ep 50: How to use a tetrahedron to solve the tree problem

How can you place four trees exactly the same distance apart from one other? By making a model! By using miniature trees to make a model of the problem, it becomes clear that a 2D solution is impossible. We learn how objects can help us visualise the problem situation, which in this case requires a 3D solution: a tetrahedron.

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MathXplosion, Ep 40: Kaprekar's operation

Did you know that 6,174 is a very mysterious number? In 1949, the mathematician Dr Kaprekar from India devised a process now known as Kaprekar's operation. First, choose a four-digit number where the digits are all different. Then rearrange the digits to get the largest and smallest numbers these digits can make. Finally, ...

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MathXplosion, Ep 1: Magic 9s

Follow these simple calculations to illustrate the special properties of the number 9. Pick your favourite number between 1 and 9 and multiply that number by 3. Add 3 to your answer. Multiply the result by 3. Treat your two-digit answer as two separate numbers and add them together. No matter what number you pick to start ...

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MathXplosion, Ep 17: Develop mathematical mind-reading skills

Amaze your friends with your super mind-reading skills. Here’s a brain game you can play by asking a few questions and substituting letters for numbers! Learn to follow a specific sequence of arithmetical steps to always arrive at the same answer.

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MathXplosion, Ep 11: Fun facts about the number seven

Did you know that the digits on opposite faces of dice will always add up to seven? Use dice as fun tools to reinforce fact families of seven, multiples of seven and subtraction skills.

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MathXplosion, Ep 10: What is the strongest shape?

Are triangles really the strongest shapes ever? If so, why? Learn how and why right-angled and equilateral triangles have been used in engineering, architecture and design through the ages.

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Literacy and numeracy improvement: a whole-school approach

This teacher resource describes how 74 public schools in metropolitan, regional and rural Western Australia used three major components of the school improvement cycle to achieve significant improvement in the literacy and numeracy learning outcomes of their students. The resource is organised in nine sections: Summary, ...

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Imperial pie

This activity involves making a cake using a recipe in which the quantities of the ingredients required are measured using a variety of imperial units. To complete the recipe, students need to convert the imperial units to metric units in order to be able to use their metric measuring instruments. The activity serves to ...

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How does income tax work?

Gen Fricker makes income tax interesting! Learn about income tax - what it is, how it works and when you have to pay it. Easy-peasy! Then test yourself with ASIC Moneysmart's "Things to think about" classroom exercises.

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Graphs: formulas and variables

In this lesson, students use algebra and linear equations to model two real-world scenarios to find information to make the best choice. Students set the aim of saving for a mobile phone (or similar goal) and use linear equations to model the pay rates of two part-time jobs to help make the better decision. This lesson ...

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Fish market: explore trading

Buy and sell fish in trading markets in a range of Australian and New Zealand cities. Compare market prices, supply and demand. Explore a range of traders to find the best deals and open up new markets. Find a rare fish. Maximise your profit and reputation as a smart trader. This learning object is the first in a series ...

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Expressing one quantity as a fraction of a second

This is a website designed for both teachers and students that addresses the expression of one quantity as a fraction of a second quantity from the Australian Curriculum for year 7 students. It contains material on using the unitary method to solve fraction problems. There are pages for both teachers and students. The student ...

Interactive

Examples of Pythagoras' Theorem Part 2

An animated tutorial demonstrating the application of Pythagoras' theorem through some worked examples, followed by a interactive quiz.

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Examples of Pythagoras' Theorem Part 1

An animated tutorial demonstrating the application of Pythagoras' theorem through some worked examples, followed by a interactive quiz.

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Estimation and reasonableness: Year 7 – planning tool

This planning resource for Year 7 is for the topic of Estimation and reasonableness. Students round decimals to a specified number of decimal places and connect the process of rounding up or down to prior experiences in rounding.

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Estimating and rounding decimals

In this lesson, students draw on prior knowledge of rounding whole numbers to develop their understanding and fluency when rounding decimals and are encouraged to reason and problem-solve through a variety of contextual activities. Students will also develop an appreciation of the role of estimation in mathematics and science.

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Equivalent fractions and the use of the number line

This is a website designed for both teachers and students that addresses equivalent fractions from the Australian Curriculum for year 7 students. It contains material on equivalent fractions, and explains how equivalence can be demonstrated on the number line. There are pages for both teachers and students. The student ...

Interactive

Converting decimals to percentages

This interactive resource consists of a series of questions about converting decimals into percentages. The viewer is required to convert a decimal number into a percentage and enter the answer in a window on the screen. The answer can be checked and, if correct, the viewer moves to the next question. Help is available ...

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Comparing fuel consumption

Is it more fuel efficient to drive or fly between two places? Watch this clip and learn how to calculate the answer. What are the various factors that need to be taken into account? This video was made using the American measurement of gallons per hour, American firgures for the average number of passengers in a car and ...

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Catalyst: Take the Phi Golden challenge

The golden ratio, Phi: fact or fallacy? What about the Fibonacci sequence? We are told this ratio and its cousin Fibonacci occur everywhere in nature. Let's see which of these claims stacks up when put to the test.

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Catalyst: Small scale measurements

What units of measurements do we use to describe incredibly small things like blood cells and atoms? Watch as you are taken on a journey to explain the different units of measurement that we use to describe the very small.

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Catalyst: Graham's number

If you were asked what the biggest number you can think of is, what would you say? Infinity? Well, what about the biggest finite number you can think of? Mathematician Ron Graham came across such a gigantic number in his research that, to capture its massive size, he and his colleagues needed to come up with new methods ...

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Can you beat the system?

In this lesson, students calculate the average expected value of losses on a roulette wheel over time, and use these values to analyse the cost of gambling on these games. They also study the flaws inherent in betting systems to determine whether these systems are weighted in the favour of game operators making a profit. ...

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BTN: What is the GST?

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a tax placed on things people buy with money or things people do for money. Can you name some goods and services that have GST? What about some goods and services that don't have GST? Find out when and why the GST was first introduced.

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BBC Bitesize: fractions - revision

This is a set of information sheets dealing with fraction concepts, terminology and calculations. Students are presented with practice questions and have access to a short test to assess their learning. This resource is one of a series of online resources from the BBC's Bitesize collection.

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Australia's population: countries of birth - dataset

The dataset provides statistics about the estimated resident population, median age and sex ratio by countries of birth for the latest year of available data. It is periodically updated by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The dataset is included in the list of related datasets on the page in MS Excel format.

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Australia's Trade through Time

Using an interactive timeline created by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, this Teacher guide provides 12 series of learning experiences that engage students in the analysis and interpretation of data about Australian trade from 1900 to the present day. Students study videos, tables, images and texts in order ...

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Arithmetic four

This is an interactive game for two students in which they solve arithmetic problems, similar to 'Connect four'. The players can choose to work with whole number and integer addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. The length of time each player will have and the level of difficulty of the problems can also be ...

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Are plants mathematicians?

Ever noticed that plants are examples of Fibonacci numbers? Watch Vi Hart draw examples of flower petals and leaf growth that follow this pattern. See how plants seem to use Phi (.), the golden ratio. Find out how to make your own 'angle-a-tron' to create interesting petal designs. This is the second in a series of two.

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All operations: Year 7 – planning tool

This planning resource for Year 7 is for the topic of All operations. Students use all operations with positive rational numbers and to choose the most appropriate and efficient approach when solving a variety of problems.

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Algebraic equations: video and teaching guide

This video uses an everyday scenario of three people sharing a taxi ride to explore algebraic thinking, and to apply that thinking to a financial context, drawing on reasoning and mathematical modelling. Use the video with the supporting teacher guide as a springboard to explore mathematical concepts. The teacher guide ...

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Addition and subtraction of fractions

This is a website designed for both teachers and students that addresses addition and subtraction of fractions. There are pages for both teachers and students. The student pages contain interactive questions for students to check their progress in the topics.