Math Unit rate worksheet: Wrangler's Steakhouse

Unit Rate Worksheet

 

     Below is an example of a unit rate worksheet that we used in class this past year. Our goal was to create a worksheet that included the following elements:

1. Finding basic unit rates
2. Calculate total amounts using unit rates
3. Had some connection with the business world
4. Use business terms
5. Required multiple steps
6. A few twist that would require students to think out the problem
7.  Able to use as individuals or small groups

 

           

      Wrangler’s Steakhouse is having a weekend T-bone dinner special.  This weekend you can buy a T-bone steak, baked potato, green beans and a drink for just $25. 

 

            The manager of the Steakhouse purchased the following items for the dinner:

·         150 T-bone steaks for $787.50

·         5 bags of potatoes (30 potatoes in each bag) for $127.50

·         75 pounds of green beans for $45

·         Thirteen 12 packs of soda pop cans for $85.80

Each customer that ordered the special received one steak, one baked potato, ½ pound of green beans, and one can of soda pop.

 

Find the Unit rates (show work) that the Steakhouse paid for the following items:

·         Cost per steak

·         Cost per potato

·         Cost per pound of green beans

 

·         Cost per can of pop

 

What was the total expense per meal for the steakhouse?

 

What is the profit on each meal for the steakhouse?

 

If 80 people order the T-bone special on Friday what is the total profit for the evening for the Steakhouse?




Todd Hawk is a middle school math teacher and the co-founder of the Land of Math website (www.landofmath.com). You can reach him at landofmath2@gmail.com or follow him on twitter: @landofmath2
 

Solving Math Word Problems

    One of the biggest struggles for math students each year is solving word problems – especially if they involve setting up equations.  Below I have included a few tips on successfully attacking these problems.

First: Read the problem!

This seems so obvious, but many students only read a small portion of the problem.  I believe that many students anticipate what the problem is asking and try to solve before they know all the facts.  Some students are intimidated by word problems and give up before they even read the problem. 

Second: What is the question? What does the problem want to know?

            It is hard to answer a question if you don’t know what is being asked.  The question usually is found at the end of a problem.  For example:

            Three friends go to a restaurant and spend $30 on food. The tax on the food is 5%. The friends leave a combined $5 tip.  How much will each person spend at the restaurant?

            The problem wants to know “how much each person spends at the restaurant.”

Third: Play detective and look for clues.

            What are the important pieces of information found in the problem? In the above problem we know the following information:

·         3 friends

·         Spent $30 on food

·          5% tax

·         A combined $5 tip

A very effective strategy is to highlight or underline these key pieces of information.