Motel costs

Motel costs

Pencil and paper
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Working with Students
Further Resources
This task is about using a flowchart to solve problems and form an equation.
illustration: Wharenui court motel
 
Cost of staying at Wharenui Court Motels
flowchart for costs of staying at the Wharenui court motel

Use the flowchart to answer the following questions about the cost of staying at the Wharenui Court Motels.

a)
What is the total cost of staying at the motel if
 
 
i)   1 person stays 1 night? 
 
     $ ___________________
 
ii)  1 person stays 3 nights? 
 
     $ ___________________
 
 
iii) 20 people stay 1 night?
 
     $ ___________________
iv) 5 people stay 2 nights? 
 
     $ ___________________
 
b)
Let C = "total cost" and p = "number of people".
Complete an equation to show how much it costs 2 or more people to stay at the motel for 1 night.
 
 
Task administration: 
This task is completed with pencil and paper only.
Level:
5
Curriculum info: 
Maths, Number and Algebra, Equations and expressions
Key Competencies: 
Using language, symbols, and texts
Keywords: 
flowcharts, rules, linear equations
Description of task: 
Students interpret information from a flowchart to calculate the total costs of different sized groups staying in a motel for varying lengths. They also complete a linear algebraic equation to show the costs of one group's stay.
Curriculum Links: 
Key competencies
This resource involves interpreting a flow chart and using it to formulate a linear equation. This relates to the Key Competency: Using language, symbols and text.
Learning Progression Frameworks
This resource can provide evidence of learning associated with
Using symbols and expressions to think mathematically, sets 6-7
within the Mathematics Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Read more about the Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Answers/responses: 

 

Y10 (08/2001)

a)

i)
ii)
iii)
iv)

80
210
1210
600

very easy
very easy
easy
moderate

b)

 

C = 60p + 10

difficult
Diagnostic and formative information: 
 

Common error

Likely miscalculation

Likely reason

a) iii)

1200

20 × $60

Does not include 'add $10 to the total cost'.

a) iv)

300

5 × $60

Calculation is done for 1 night only.

b)

C = 60p

  

Does not include 'add $10' in equation.