Maths Week Scotland 2023 – Problem 4 – Shopping spree – BBC Bitesize

CHRIS: In this problem, we’re going on a shopping spree and we need to work out how much Tam McTavish spent.

All eleven members of the McTavish family have gone on a shopping trip to Killiemuir.

Ten of them spent exactly twenty pounds each. But Tam was extravagant. He spent ten pounds more than the average for the whole family.

How much did Tam spend?

Explain your answer.

Now, ten of them spend exactly twenty pounds when they’re out shopping but Tam, he’s a bit extravagant and spends more.

PUPIL: Remember Tam spent ten pounds more than average. Not ten pounds more than everyone else.

CHRIS: Tam spends ten pound more than the average, right.

PUPIL: It might help how to work out a formula to find the total money the family spent.

PUPIL: You could try trial and improvement to get to the right answer.

CHRIS: You think that’s going to work?

Because this is what the average is going to be. Is that even going to be a whole number?

PUPIL: Try your best and see if you can crack it.