This workbook in consumer mathematics is intended to be a collection of exercises on the kind of mathematical problems that people run into every week of their lives. This is not a "textbook" in the traditional sense of offering instruction as to "how to do" various things. Teachers are expected to provide whatever teaching may be necessary for students to be able to do the math involved in these problems. One important objective of this workbook is to make the subject of consumer math relevant to students. That means using problems and information from students' own lives. In many instances, students will visit local stores, read local newspapers, collect information from local sources, and the like—all in order to do the problems in the workbook. The problems in the workbook are chosen from the everyday life of a fictitious, "average" family. Students solve problems related to living expenses, taxes, banking, credit and insurance. Included are authentic forms (such as deposit slips) and worksheets (such as budgeting sheets). The workbook is set up to allow teachers to use as much or as little of their own imagination as they wish. Each activity is largely independent of all others. |
