Project Outline/Ideas

I have decided to revamp an old project that I used to do with my students. I have not done it in the past couple years due to time restrains and our heavy curriculum. I feel it is a great real world example that kids will relate to so I want to try to get it in this year. I am going to incorporate some web 2.0 tools into the aesthetics of the final product and how they could present it to the class. Below is my outline of the project...

Car 1 Vs. Car 2 Project

Lets pick 2 comparably priced cars that you may someday want to purchase. How can we figure out which car will be the better deal in the long run?

My Example: 2006 Honda Accord VS 2006 Toyota Prius

1. Pick two cars and find their price:

• 2006 Honda Accord – $18,225

• 2006 Toyota Prius – $21,725

2. Find Miles Per Gallon (MPG):

• Accord – 34 MPG

• Prius – 60 MPG

3. Find current price for gas per gallon (look at any gas station) – $3.00

4. Find price per mile by.... gas price /miles per gallon

• Accord - ($3.00/34mpg) = $.088

• Prius - ($3.00/60mpg) = $.05
  

5. Write a system of equations in the following form...

x = total number of miles driven, independent

y = total amount of money spent, dependent on # of miles driven

Equation for each car: y = sales price + (price/mile)x

• Accord --> y = 18225 + 0.088x

• Prius --> y = 21725 + 0.05x

6. Solve the system of equations two ways, by the substitution method and then the graphing method.

• The substitution method will give you the point of intersection….
• The x value tells you how many miles both cars must be driven before both cars cost the same price, y.

• The graphing method should show the point of intersection and you should be able to make some sort of conclusion from the intersection.
• The line (which represents a car) that is lower (smaller y-intercept) is a better deal until the point of intersection and then the other line (the other car) becomes a better deal.

7. Which car is better if you are only going to keep it for 5 years (written conclusion)?

• The average American drives 12,000 miles in one year.