Phone Plan Showdown – Mastering Expressions & Equations
In this real-world algebra challenge, students take on the role of a savvy shopper analyzing three mobile data plans. Each plan includes a base cost and a variable per-GB charge. Rather than being given the expressions, students must:
- Write algebraic expressions to represent each plan
- Evaluate their expressions for different GB values (e.g., 2 GB, 5 GB, 10 GB)
- Compare costs to determine which plan is cheapest at each level of usage
- Set expressions equal to each other to find the exact data usage where plans cost the same
🔍 What students learn:
- Modeling real-world scenarios using algebraic expressions
- Substituting values into expressions to evaluate outcomes
- Comparing and interpreting results in a meaningful context
- Using equations to find break-even points in pricing
📈 This worksheet makes expressions and equations meaningful by helping students use math to make smart financial choices—just like they would in everyday life.
Learning Objective
Students will be able to construct and evaluate algebraic expressions to represent real-world pricing scenarios, and solve equations to determine break-even points. They will apply these skills to compare multiple phone plans based on varying data usage and make informed decisions by interpreting and analyzing their mathematical results.
Randomization Available
- To ensure individualized learning and discourage copying, each student receives a unique version of the worksheet. The monthly base fees, per-GB charges, and usage amounts for the phone plans are randomized. This means every student will write and evaluate different expressions and reach unique conclusions based on their personalized data.
💡 Tip: When assigning this activity to your classroom, you can optionally enable randomization to give each student a unique version of the problems. When you re-assign the same worksheet, each student will get a new set of questions, helping them master the content through repeated practice.
