1. Lucy’s Holiday Currency Conversion
Ruth Precious
Doncaster AFCLS

2. Topic Aims Method Equipment Duration Level Hidden
Lucy’s Holiday – Currency Conversion
Aims
To use a real-life example of how ratio tables can help break down a maths problem.
To highlight that maths is in everyday life but that we don’t always see it as maths.
Practice the conversion between pounds and euros.
To provide parents with an insight to a ‘worded’ maths problem and a ‘tool’ with which they can use to support their children as they solve the problem.
Level
Key Stage 2
Method
Exercise on converting currency.
Equipment
Hand-out
Pens/pencils
Paper
Duration
5 – 10 Minutes
Hidden

3. Using Ratio Table to Solve Problems £ € £ € What do I know already? 1
Example:
Lucy is going to Zante – she is going for 7 days. She has saved £3500 to change into euros to take with her for spending money.
She thinks that when converted to euros she will have at least 65 euros to spend each day. Is she right?
To find the answer, ask…..
What do I know already?    1 €
1.35
So, because I know this, then I must know….    1
10  20
100 5  €
1.35
13.5
27.0
135.00
6.75

4. Using Ratio Table to Solve Problems
So, if Lucy is exchanging £350.00, we can look at this various ways, I have chosen the following:
£100 x 3 = € x 3 = €405.00
£20 x 2 = €27.00 x 2 = €54.00
£10 x 1 = €13.50 x 1 = €13.50
So, she will have € € €13.50 = € in total.
She is staying for 7 days, so € ÷ 7 = €67.50.
So yes, Lucy is right. If she exchanges £ into euros she will have at least €65.00 to spend each day (in fact, she will have €67.50 to spend each day!).

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