A Day in the Life of an AdultA Day in the Life of an Adult

A Webquest for Middle School Math StudentsA Webquest for Middle School Math Students

Created by Aaron MeekinsCreated by Aaron Meekins

meekinsa@dcpsmd.orgmeekinsa@dcpsmd.org

Introduction

Evaluation

Task

Conclusion

Process

Prepare for an Adventure!

Next Page

Teacher Page

IntroductionIntroduction You are real estate agent to the stars. One of your You are real estate agent to the stars. One of your

star clients asks to you find a good house for star clients asks to you find a good house for them in the price range of $750,000- $1,000,000 them in the price range of $750,000- $1,000,000 in the Cambridge, Maryland area. Your job is to in the Cambridge, Maryland area. Your job is to find them a house, and calculate the commission find them a house, and calculate the commission you would earn with the sale. Then, you take you would earn with the sale. Then, you take yourself shopping to buy something with your yourself shopping to buy something with your credit card. You must calculate the costs to make credit card. You must calculate the costs to make sure that you do NOT go BANKRUPT!sure that you do NOT go BANKRUPT!

Good Luck, and ENJOY THE ADVENTURE!!Good Luck, and ENJOY THE ADVENTURE!!

Introduction

Task

Process

Evaluation

Conclusion

Next Page

TaskTaskThe big questions are:The big questions are:How do you calculate commission?How do you calculate commission?How do you calculate sales taxes?How do you calculate sales taxes?How do you calculate discounts?How do you calculate discounts?How do you calculate interest?How do you calculate interest?

By following each step in the By following each step in the “process” section, you will:“process” section, you will:

Earn some incomeEarn some incomeGo shoppingGo shoppingCalculate numbers using percentagesCalculate numbers using percentages

Introduction

Task

Process

Evaluation

ConclusionNext Page

Introduction

Task

Process

Evaluation

Conclusion

ProcessProcessBefore you begin, review the evaluation page to see how your project will be graded. Read the Before you begin, review the evaluation page to see how your project will be graded. Read the

“Target” section to see how to earn an A!“Target” section to see how to earn an A!

Part I: Write down everything you know about the terms commission, sales tax, Part I: Write down everything you know about the terms commission, sales tax, interest (APR), and discounts. interest (APR), and discounts.

Part II: Gaining New KnowledgePart II: Gaining New Knowledge

Open and print the following Open and print the following word document word document to keep track of your findings.to keep track of your findings.Watch this Watch this short video short video on “How to Find A Percent of a Number”on “How to Find A Percent of a Number”

Step one: Research the Step one: Research the commission commission for beginning real estate agents.for beginning real estate agents.Step two: Research the Step two: Research the house house you are going to purchase for your client.you are going to purchase for your client.Step three: Calculate your earnings on selling the home to your clientStep three: Calculate your earnings on selling the home to your clientStep four: Go shopping for whatever you want to buy on the web. Find the item Step four: Go shopping for whatever you want to buy on the web. Find the item

and the listing price. and the listing price. Step five: Research the Step five: Research the sales tax sales tax for your state. for your state. Step six: Find the subtotal of your purchase, and take a 15% discount for being a Step six: Find the subtotal of your purchase, and take a 15% discount for being a

student. student. Step seven: Pick one of the following credit cards, Step seven: Pick one of the following credit cards, American ExpressAmerican Express, , VisaVisa, and , and

MastercardMastercard. Research their Annual Percentage Rate. (Pick one of the APR’s). Research their Annual Percentage Rate. (Pick one of the APR’s)Step eight: Calculate the total interest on your purchase after one year. Step eight: Calculate the total interest on your purchase after one year.

CommissionCommission Credit Card APRCredit Card APR Sales TaxSales Tax

Next Page

EvaluationEvaluationTask/Objective 9-10 Target = A 8 Targets = BTask/Objective 9-10 Target = A 8 Targets = B

7 Targets = C 6 Targets = D 7 Targets = C 6 Targets = D TargetTarget Needs Needs

ImprovementImprovementDid the students find a house in the correct price range? (Use of the Did the students find a house in the correct price range? (Use of the computer objective)computer objective)

Did the student find the commission rate for a Real Estate agent? Did the student find the commission rate for a Real Estate agent? (use of the computer objective)(use of the computer objective)

Did the student accurately calculate the commission he/she earned Did the student accurately calculate the commission he/she earned while making the sale? (math objective)while making the sale? (math objective)

Did the student buy a product within the amount from which they Did the student buy a product within the amount from which they earned? (Use of the computer objective)earned? (Use of the computer objective)

Did the student calculate the correct sales tax on the item? (math Did the student calculate the correct sales tax on the item? (math objective)objective)

Did the student calculate the correct subtotal amount? (math Did the student calculate the correct subtotal amount? (math objective)objective)

Did the student calculate the correct discount amount? (math Did the student calculate the correct discount amount? (math objective)objective)

Did the student calculate the correct total price of their purchase? Did the student calculate the correct total price of their purchase? (math objective)(math objective)

Did the student use the computer effectively to find the APR for Did the student use the computer effectively to find the APR for their credit card? (Use of the computer objective)their credit card? (Use of the computer objective)

Did the student calculate the correct one year interest amount on the Did the student calculate the correct one year interest amount on the item purchased? (math objective)item purchased? (math objective)

Introduction ConclusionProcessTask

Next Page

ConclusionConclusion

Throughout this WebQuest you have explored Throughout this WebQuest you have explored commission, sales tax, and simple interest. During the commission, sales tax, and simple interest. During the research, you have discovered how much commission research, you have discovered how much commission a real estate agent makes, and you learned how to a real estate agent makes, and you learned how to calculate amounts using percentages. calculate amounts using percentages.

Think about other jobs that pay by commission, and Think about other jobs that pay by commission, and the likelyhood of having a good career and making a the likelyhood of having a good career and making a good income. Think about how sales tax adds to the good income. Think about how sales tax adds to the price of whatever you buy, and how to plan for price of whatever you buy, and how to plan for interest payments when borrowing money. It's all part interest payments when borrowing money. It's all part of being an adult!of being an adult!

Introduction Task Process Conclusion

Teachers PageTeachers Page

CommentsComments Students often wonder where they use the Students often wonder where they use the

materials covered in class. Hopefully, this activity materials covered in class. Hopefully, this activity will help you see exactly how mathematics is used will help you see exactly how mathematics is used in everyday life. in everyday life.

Materials Needed: Class handout, internet access, Materials Needed: Class handout, internet access, pens, a calculator if needed. pens, a calculator if needed.

ConclusionProcessTaskIntroduction