Use Algebra to Find the Best-Priced Pizza! (continued)
Topics: Math, Test Prep, High School
Did the parlor with the higher rating have a higher “a” constant? That means you’re satisfied to pay more for superior ingredients.
Did the parlor with the higher rating have a higher “c” constant? That means you’re happy paying more for a nicer atmosphere or better location.
You can have all kinds of opinions about which pizza is the better buy, based on what your family values about pizza. You can try another parlor and compare it, too. Before long, you’ll be the neighborhood pizza experts.
Extensions:
- Graphing Practice: plot each parlor’s points for its medium and large pizzas (price, diameter) on an x-y axis. Connect the points to make a line. Will the two parlors ever sell the same pizza at the same price? Hint: look for a point of intersection.
- Challenge Question: Is buying a bigger pizza cost-effective?
- Brain Teaser: How can you cut a round pizza into eight equal slices with just 3 straight cuts? The answer is tricky, but it can be done. Answer: (Cut the pizza in half, then in quarters. Now stack the quarters and make one last slice down the middle to get eight pieces.)
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Cindy Donaldson taught Math, Business, and Computer Science at Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton, California for seven years. She has also worked as a tutor for SAT and SAT II test preparation. She is the mother of two young daughters.
Comments from readers
I would like to try this with my class and would like to be able to explain the process. My original thinking of solving this problem is the following: 15 is equal to a times d times 2 plus c.