Here's a new meaning to the expression throwing away money...a carpet of coins! An intriguing lesson requires calculations to determine the coin that would be the cheapest option, but it's a little tricky. The cost of the coin changes, and so does the area it covers. Individuals must organize the information to make the correct conclusion.

Concepts

surface area, unit rates, ratios

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Additional Tags

math

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Instructional Ideas

• Give pupils manipulatives of different coins and have them use their desk surfaces as a model
• Have learners research coins from other countries to determine if there are even cheaper options

Classroom Considerations

• Requires an understanding of surface area and calculating surface areas

Pros

• Leaves the question open-ended to encourage multiple solution strategies
• Encourages the use of higher level thinking skills

Cons

• Does not include Act 3, which contains the solution to the question

Common Core

7.RP.A.3 7.G.B.4 MP4