AN INTERDISCIPLINARY UNITAN INTERDISCIPLINARY UNIT

Math Connections:Math Connections:1926 Prices1926 Prices ProbabilityProbability

StatisticsStatistics

Dave At NightDave At Night

Life in the 1920’sLife in the 1920’s

How much did a How much did a meal cost back meal cost back then?then?

Does everything Does everything increase at the increase at the same rate?same rate?

We will learn about We will learn about the CPI (Consumer the CPI (Consumer Price Index) and Price Index) and Inflation.Inflation.

Compare today’s price to 1926Compare today’s price to 1926

Find a grocery ad from the newspaper.Find a grocery ad from the newspaper.

How much does it cost for:How much does it cost for: Five pound bag of Five pound bag of flourflour?? Five pound bag of Five pound bag of sugarsugar?? 1 pound can (16 ounces) of 1 pound can (16 ounces) of coffeecoffee??

We will compare today’s prices to We will compare today’s prices to what Dave would buy in 1926!what Dave would buy in 1926!

CPI CPI CONSUMER PRICE INDEXCONSUMER PRICE INDEX

Using EXCEL, you can easily organize Using EXCEL, you can easily organize TODAY’S FOOD PRODUCTS. In TODAY’S FOOD PRODUCTS. In another column record today’s cost.another column record today’s cost.

This Internet site will assist you This Internet site will assist you on your CPI formula in on your CPI formula in calculating the 1926 cost.calculating the 1926 cost.

http://minneapolisfed.org/research/data/us/chttp://minneapolisfed.org/research/data/us/calc/alc/

Do you think it easier to view mathematical

information on a bar graph or in a chart format?

Example if YOUR 2003 Price Was:

Selected Foods 2003 Prices 1926 PricesFlour(5lbs) $2.00 $0.19Bread $1.50 $0.14Bacon (lb) $2.59 $0.25Butter(lb) $1.80 $0.17Eggs(doz) $0.99 $0.10milk (1/2 gal) $1.50 $0.14Oranges (doz) $4.00 $0.38Potatoes(10lbs) $5.00 $0.48Coffee(lb) $2.50 $0.24Sugar(5lb) $2.50 $0.24

Selected Foods 2003 Prices vs. 1926

$0.00

$1.00

$2.00

$3.00

$4.00

$5.00

$6.00

2003 Prices

1926 Prices

This data is easier to read as aThis data is easier to read as aBAR GRAPHBAR GRAPH

Sometimes LINE GRAPHS are Sometimes LINE GRAPHS are better to view information.better to view information.

Your group will research, Your group will research, organize, and record data organize, and record data into charts and graphs so into charts and graphs so it will be easier to present it will be easier to present to your classmatesto your classmates..

US Price Levels 1915 to 2001, with 2001 = 100

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

1915 1920 1925 1930 1935 1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

Vietnam War1965-1975

World War I1916-1918

World War II1941-1945

GreatDepression1929-1941

 

At the Rent Party At the Rent Party

Dave At NightDave At Night by Gail Carson Levine P78 by Gail Carson Levine P78

““Tell for you your fortune?” Solly called.Tell for you your fortune?” Solly called.““A quarter a card,” Solly chanted.A quarter a card,” Solly chanted.

“ “ A quarter! Just for a card! For a quarter I A quarter! Just for a card! For a quarter I could buy a hot dog and a double-scoop could buy a hot dog and a double-scoop ice cream cone and an orangeade and a ice cream cone and an orangeade and a chocolate bar. A delicious meal.” (Dave chocolate bar. A delicious meal.” (Dave thought.)thought.)

  

1926 Prices vs. Today’s 1926 Prices vs. Today’s

19261926

A delicious mealA delicious meal hotdoghotdog double-scoop ice double-scoop ice

cream conecream cone an orangeadean orangeade a chocolate bara chocolate bar

Total Cost: $.25Total Cost: $.25

  

TodayToday

A delicious mealA delicious meal hotdoghotdog double-scoop ice double-scoop ice

cream conecream cone an orangeadean orangeade a chocolate bara chocolate bar

Total Cost: ???Total Cost: ???

Finding Information From 1920sFinding Information From 1920s

It’s fun to find information on the It’s fun to find information on the internet from 1926!internet from 1926!

Recording and using statistics can be Recording and using statistics can be done in many ways.done in many ways.

Excel is one great way to Excel is one great way to record data and an easy record data and an easy way to see it graphed!way to see it graphed!

Example 1Example 1

What have you recently bought?What have you recently bought?Did they sell it back in 1926?Did they sell it back in 1926?Ask your classmates, friends, Ask your classmates, friends,

family members what product family members what product they recently bought?they recently bought?

Write this information down.Write this information down.

Example 1 continuedExample 1 continued

Using EXCEL, you can list any items that were Using EXCEL, you can list any items that were made back in 1926 in one column.made back in 1926 in one column.

In another column record today’s cost.In another column record today’s cost. There is an Internet site available where you There is an Internet site available where you

TYPE what the item costs today and it will TYPE what the item costs today and it will FIGURE OUT approximately how much this FIGURE OUT approximately how much this

product would have COST IN 1926.product would have COST IN 1926.

http://www.http://www.westeggwestegg.com/inflation.com/inflationYou can make a bar graph to easily see the You can make a bar graph to easily see the

difference in costs! difference in costs!

EXAMPLE 2EXAMPLE 2

DAVE IS AN ORPHAN.DAVE IS AN ORPHAN.How many orphans lived in How many orphans lived in

1926?1926?Does this increase or decrease Does this increase or decrease

over the years?over the years?

Is it Is it easier easier to see this information to see this information on a on a line graphline graph or on a or on a tabletable??

This line graph shows historical This line graph shows historical data of children like Dave who live data of children like Dave who live

with neither parent. with neither parent. Neither Parent

0

1000

2000

3000

1900 1930 1960 1990

Neither Parent

LATER YOU MAY BE ASKED TO RESEARCH WHY THERE IS NO DATA FOR 1930.

At the Rent PartyAt the Rent Party

Solly, as a fortune teller, might ask Solly, as a fortune teller, might ask you to pick a card, any card, from a you to pick a card, any card, from a standard deck of 52 cards.standard deck of 52 cards.

How would you increase the How would you increase the probability of picking out a certain probability of picking out a certain card? card?

We will learn about probability!We will learn about probability!

An Ace or A Red Ace?An Ace or A Red Ace?

Would you have the same Would you have the same probability of winning if Solly asked probability of winning if Solly asked you to pick an ace or a red ace? you to pick an ace or a red ace? You need to think: You need to think:

How many red aces are there in a deck How many red aces are there in a deck of playing cards?of playing cards?

How many aces are there in a deck of How many aces are there in a deck of playing cards?playing cards?

WOULD YOUR PROBABILITY INCREASE WOULD YOUR PROBABILITY INCREASE OR STAY THE SAME ?OR STAY THE SAME ?

ProbabilityProbability

PROBABILITY OF W INNING

F O U R A C E S IN A D E C K 4 /52O R1 /13

5 2 P L A Y IN G C A R D S

P IC K IN G A N A C E

ProbabilityProbability

PROBABILITY OF W INNING

T W OR E D A C E SIN A D E C K

2 /52O R1 /26

5 2 P L A Y IN G C A R D S

P IC K IN G a R E D A C E

WHAT DO YOU THINK?WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Someone caused trouble at the “rent Someone caused trouble at the “rent party.” All of the labels were taken party.” All of the labels were taken off the cans. NOW ALL SIX CANS off the cans. NOW ALL SIX CANS LOOKED EXACTLY ALIKE! LOOKED EXACTLY ALIKE!

WHAT ARE THE ODDS THAT THE COOK WILL WHAT ARE THE ODDS THAT THE COOK WILL PICK THE CORRECT CAN?PICK THE CORRECT CAN?

THE COOK WANTED TO MAKE A TUNA THE COOK WANTED TO MAKE A TUNA CASSEROLE. CASSEROLE.

What information do you need to know?What information do you need to know?

So what do you think that the cook So what do you think that the cook picked? Explain. picked? Explain.

What is the PROBABILITY of picking What is the PROBABILITY of picking tuna?tuna?

Of course..WHAT’S IN THE CANS!Of course..WHAT’S IN THE CANS!1 CAN WAS SOUP1 CAN WAS SOUP2 CANS WERE CORN2 CANS WERE CORN1 CAN WAS SALMON1 CAN WAS SALMON1 CAN WAS TUNA1 CAN WAS TUNA1 CAN WAS SARDINES1 CAN WAS SARDINES

Assuming that the cook was equally likely Assuming that the cook was equally likely to reach for any can of food.to reach for any can of food.

Perhaps the cook could make a Perhaps the cook could make a fish casserole. What is the fish casserole. What is the

PROBABILITY of picking fish?PROBABILITY of picking fish?

1 CAN WAS SOUP1 CAN WAS SOUP2 CANS WERE CORN2 CANS WERE CORN1 CAN WAS SALMON1 CAN WAS SALMON1 CAN WAS TUNA1 CAN WAS TUNA1 CAN WAS SARDINES1 CAN WAS SARDINES

Your are correct if you said that the Your are correct if you said that the Probability of the cook picking tuna was Probability of the cook picking tuna was

1/6 Not very good bet that it was tuna!1/6 Not very good bet that it was tuna!

Probability of the cook getting Probability of the cook getting fish?fish?

1 CAN WAS SOUP1 CAN WAS SOUP 2 CANS WERE CORN2 CANS WERE CORN 1 CAN WAS SALMON1 CAN WAS SALMON 1 CAN WAS TUNA1 CAN WAS TUNA 1 CAN WAS SARDINES1 CAN WAS SARDINES

There are There are 3 cans of fish3 cans of fish:: Salmon, tuna, sardinesSalmon, tuna, sardines

The PROBABILITY of the cook The PROBABILITY of the cook selecting a can of fish is selecting a can of fish is 3/6 or ½.3/6 or ½.

The expected outcome is most likely fish!The expected outcome is most likely fish!

Some ideas to think about.Some ideas to think about.

1.1. Would you rather live in the Would you rather live in the past or the present? Explain.past or the present? Explain.

2.2. Do you think students had Do you think students had better math skills in 1926?better math skills in 1926?

Tell why or why not?Tell why or why not?

This is This is The EndThe End of this presentation. of this presentation.

Now it your time to start your own exploration.Now it your time to start your own exploration.