Sale!

Reflection:

The sales task aligns with the Standard of Mathematical Practice 4: modeling with mathematics. This tasks seems very ambiguous and a challenge to compare the different sales without a model. Assumptions must be made about this task to compare the different sales to model. The limitations of this model are that it is challenging to create a general case as the price of the different items chosen effect the price reduction. Creating assumptions about different prices allows an understanding of the different price reductions which then can be used to create a generalization based on assumptions to decide the different sale amounts. Creating a table based on assumptions aids in creating clarity for the problem to complete the task at hand.

The task is challenging because assumptions do have to be made and depending on the prices of items, students answers could widely range. It allows for great classroom conversations about the different assumptions that are made, but it is important to have class discussions in regard to these differences to fully investigate the task. Students might struggle to complete the task in a generalized form, so it would be important to discuss the applications of the problem.

The task could be kick started by looking at different grocery store ads and discussing the sales and prices of items to create more engagement. Since the task is so ambiguous I think it would be important for students to have a real world tie into the problem. Starting off the task looking at real prices could also aid in starting all students and extend the activity to further thinking based on the prices of the individual items and how that may effect the sale reduction.

Source: http://tasks.illustrativemathematics.org/content-standards/7/RP/A/tasks/114