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

Interactive

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 ...

Video

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 ...

Video

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.  

Video

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 ...

Online

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.

Online

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.

Online

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 ...

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 ...

Online

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.

Online

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 ...

Video

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.

Online

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 ...

Video

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.  

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 ...

Text

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 ...

Online

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 ...

Video

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 ...

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 ...

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.

Video

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 ...