Idea 20of 23Builds onCompare the price for one
Less today, or less for each?
Can the cheaper pack and the better value be different packs?
Today you'll discover
- what you pay today
- what each one costs
- why the question decides
Think first3 for $4.50, or 6 for $7.80
Juice boxes: 3 for $4.50, or 6 for $7.80. Which costs less to buy today?
Decide first, then press Next. Read the question: today, or for each one?
Two packs of juice boxes, 3 for $4.50 and 6 for $7.80, their tags showing $1.50 and $1.30 each. Then two dollar bars, $4.50 today and $7.80 today, the shorter ticked. Then $4.50 ÷ 3 = $1.50 each and $7.80 ÷ 6 = $1.30 each. Then two ticks: less to pay today, $4.50; less for each, $1.30. The last step asks about markers.
See the whole ideathe big idea and the key word, in one place
The big idea
Less to pay today compares totals; less for each compares unit prices.
Same packs, two answers
Today: $4.50 against $7.80, so the 3-pack. For each box: $1.50 against $1.30, so the 6-pack.
- Less today3-pack
- Less for each6-pack
Easy to get wrongWhen someone says one pack is the better value, ask what they compared: the totals, or the price for one?
Key word
- total price
- everything you pay for a pack at the checkout, whatever its size
Ready to use it?
- Decide whether a question asks about totals or unit prices.
- Find what someone actually compared.