The big ideaThe same thing can cost different amounts. Look before you buy.
How it works
Sam went to the market with four pretend coins. Three stalls sold the same bag of apples.
Corner charged five coins, Hill three coins and Lake six coins. The same bag had three prices.
The bags were all the same size, so the cheapest bag was the best buy. That was Hill, the one stall that four coins could pay.
Sam paid three coins and kept one. Looking at prices first got the apples and a coin to spare.
The three prices on a line.Smart steps, and hasty steps.
Example 1: Which stall is cheapest?
Corner charges 5, Hill charges 3 and Lake charges 6.
Three coins is fewer than five or six.
Hill is the cheapest, so it is the best buy for the same size bag.
Example 2: What can four coins buy?
Sam has 4 coins.
Hill costs 3, so Sam can pay. Corner costs 5 and Lake costs 6, which are more than 4.
Four coins can pay for Hill only.
Example 3: Paying at Hill
Sam pays 3 coins from the 4 in the purse.
4 − 3 = 1.
One coin is left in the purse.
Example 4: Corner against Hill
Corner charges 5 and Hill charges 3.
5 − 3 = 2.
Corner costs 2 coins more for the same bag.
Words to know
price
What a thing costs.
compare
To look at two or more things side by side.
afford
To have enough coins to pay.
Watch out
Buying at the first stall means you have not compared.
A smaller bag can cost less and still be worse value. Check the size.
Count your coins first, so you know what you can afford. Four coins cannot pay five.
The lowest price is the best buy only when the bags are the same size.
Try it
Corner charges 5, Hill charges 3 and Lake charges 6. Which is cheapest?
Sam has 4 coins and pays 3. How many are left?
Can 4 coins pay at the Lake stall?
A smaller bag costs less. Is it always the better buy?
Answers: 1. Hill · 2. 1 · 3. No · 4. No
Try at homeWith a grown-up at a shop, find two prices for the same kind of thing and say which one is less.
For grown-upsNext time you shop, find two prices for the same kind of thing and say which is less, and check the sizes. The market in the story is made up, with pretend coins.
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