Algebra Thanksgiving

A happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!  I’m thankful to have a Thanksgiving with my friends, family, and fellow tutors.  And, I’m thankful to know Algebra. For many students, it’s a week off from school, but not from studying Algebra and their other homework!  This year, have your student help you budget for your Thanksgiving dinner using Algebra.

 Marketing with Algebra

Imagine if you had a choice of two markets to go to: the Ranch 99 in Woodbridge, or the Trader Joe’s near UCI.  Each market is selling turkeys and boxes of stuffing on sale, but you’re not sure which is the better value for your twenty dollar budget.  Ranch 99 has turkeys for $1.29 per pound, and boxes of stuffing for $2.79.  Trader Joe’s turkeys are $1.59 a pound, but the boxes of stuffing are only $1.99.  You know you need two boxes of stuffing and would like to buy as big a turkey as possible.  Using Algebra, you can figure out the most cost effective market to shop at by creating two algebraic equations.

 

T = Turkey

S = Stuffing

Total budget = $20.00

 

Our Algebra formula for each market would be:

Cost per pound of turkey x Pounds of Turkey + Cost per box of stuffing x Two boxes of Stuffing = Total budget

The Irvine Trader Joe’s Algebra equation would be:

 

1.59 x T + 1.99 x 2 = 20.00

First, multiply through to get:

1.59T + 3.98 = 20

 

Subtract the 3.98 from both sides to get the variable by itself:

 

1.59T + 3.98 – 3.98 = 20-3.98

1.59T = 16.02

 

Divide by 1.59 to determine the amount of turkey:

 

1.59T/1.59 = 16.02/1.59

T = 10.075

 

Algebra at Trader Joe’s

Our Algebra formula at Trader Joe’s in Irvine shows we can buy ten pounds of turkey and two boxes of stuffing for under $20.00.  Remember to round down, as rounding up would cause you to go over your twenty dollars.

 

Algebra at Ranch 99

Let’s use Algebra to see if Ranch 99 would be a better value.  Using the same method, we’ll apply Algebra and create an equation, then solve for the pounds of turkey, T.

 

The Irvine Ranch 99’s Algebra equation would be:

1.29xT + 2.79×2 = 20.00

 

Algebra Tutor in Irvine

An Algebra tutor would remind you to use the same steps we used the first time.  It’s always helpful to look back at your work, or your notes from in class, if you can’t remember what step to do next.  So, like last time, first multiply through to get:

1.29T + 5.58 = 20

 

Then subtract the 5.58 from both sides to get the variable by itself:

1.29T + 5.58 – 5.58 = 20 – 5.58

1.29T = 14.42

 

Divide by 1.29 to determine the amount of turkey:

1.29T/1.29 = 14.42/1.29

 

T = 11.12

 

At Ranch 99 in Irvine, you can buy eleven pounds of turkey and two boxes of stuffing for under twenty dollars.

 

While it may not have been obvious at first, using Algebra we were able to determine that Ranch 99 is the better value.  Comparing costs of groceries is an easy way to get your student to see a “real life” application of Algebra.

 

Looking for an Algebra tutor in Irvine?

Need math help or other subjects near Irvine Center, the Spectrum, or surrounding area.  Visit our site at www.APlusInHomeTutors.com. We have professional tutors nearby that can help get your student on track during Thanksgiving break!