Unit Prices: Find the Better Deal
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What you will learn
- 1Find a unit price by dividing the price by the amount
- 2Read the unit price on a store shelf tag
- 3Compare two items using the same unit
- 4Explain why bigger is not always cheaper
- 5Choose a deal only if the family will use it before it goes bad
Mini Lesson
Two packages of the same food sit side by side. One is small, one is big, and they have different prices. Which is the better deal? Comparing the prices alone does not tell you. You need the unit price - the cost of ONE item, one ounce, or one pound. Then you can compare fairly.
🏠 The Life Skills Way (step by step)
- FIND THE UNIT PRICE: divide the price by the amount. $6 for 3 apples is $6 ÷ 3 = $2 for each apple.
- READ THE SHELF TAG: many stores print the unit price on the shelf tag, often in small print, like "$2.00 per pound". It saves you the math.
- COMPARE THE SAME UNIT: compare per ounce with per ounce, or per item with per item. Never compare ounces with items.
- BIGGER IS NOT ALWAYS CHEAPER: a big pack can cost more per unit than a small one. Always check.
- WILL YOU USE IT ALL?: a big pack of fruit is only a deal if your family eats it before it goes bad. Food in the trash is money in the trash.
- DECIDE TOGETHER: tell your grown-up which one you think is the better deal and why. They make the final choice.
Shop with your grown-up and let them decide what goes in the cart. Do not open packages or taste food in the store to compare. Some food, like bread and fruit, goes bad quickly, so a big pack is not a good buy if most of it will be wasted.
Words to know
unit price
The cost of one item, one ounce, or one pound.
e.g. The unit price of the apples was $2 each.
unit
The amount you measure by, such as one item, one ounce, or one pound.
e.g. Compare both jars using the same unit.
divide
To split an amount into equal parts.
e.g. Divide $6 by 3 to get $2.
shelf tag
The label on the store shelf that shows the price.
e.g. The shelf tag showed the price per pound.
better deal
The choice that gives you more for your money and that you will really use.
e.g. The small pack was the better deal for our family.
waste
Food or money that gets thrown away without being used.
e.g. Buying too much fruit can lead to waste.
💡 Handy Tip: when the math is hard, round the prices to easy numbers first. $5.90 for 3 is about $6 for 3, or about $2 each. That is close enough to see which deal wins.
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