They measure the classroom wall dimensions, draw a scale model, and incorporate measurements for windows and doors to determine the area that could be covered by wallpaper. Students then hear more about Tom's redecorating adventure, learning about expenses, budget constraints, and trade-offs. For assessment, students measure their rooms at home. This lesson requires that students know how to measure, or a review may be necessary before teaching. Next, students learn about how taxes are paid on income that people earn and how income tax is calculated.
Students develop a budget for a college student, using a spreadsheet.
They examine the student's faxed, variable, and periodic expenses and revise to adjust for cash flow problems that appear on the first spreadsheet. This lesson is designed to increase student awareness and appreciation of the efficiency of using computer technology in math applications.