HCPSS

Worthwhile Math Task

Music Dilemma
Common Core Standard
8.F.2 Compare properties of two functions each represented in a different way (algebraically, graphically, numerically in tables, or by verbal descriptions). For example, given a linear function represented by a table of values and a linear function represented by an algebraic expression, determine which function has the greater rate of change.

The Task

Katie was just rewarded with a new MP3 player for making Honor Roll. She is doing research to determine which Internet based company she should use to download her music. She has found two different companies to choose from, Music Media Mania and Totally Tubular Tunes. Music Media Mania does not have a joining fee and charges $2.25 per song purchased. Totally Tubular Tunes has a one time joining fee of $15 and charges $1.50 per song purchased. Which company should she choose?

Facilitator Notes
1. Encourage students to use a variety of representations to compare the two companies, including tables, graphs, equations, and other models. 2. Solution 1 models a table being with 0 songs and progressing to a cost of 4 songs for $9.00 and then counts by 4 songs to modeling a table strategy. The second table for Solution 1 does not jump due to the initial $15 fee. Consider discussing the skip counting strategy with students. 3. If your students are having a difficult time getting started, consider offering a starting point. For example, ask the question: How much will it cost her to buy 5, 10, 15, 20 songs? 4. Engage in a discussion about extending each table, only as far as you need to in order to determine the better deal. 5. Discuss with students the reasonableness of the value of x. Is it possible to buy a negative value of x (a negative number of songs)? 6. It is also important to discuss that any equation generated is a model for the situation, but the actual scenario is a set a discrete points. To help emphasize this, ask if it is possible to pay for 1.5 songs? Does this make sense?

Howard County Public Schools Office of Secondary Mathematics Curricular Projects has licensed this product under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

HCPSS Worthwhile Math Task

Follow-Up Question
1. Are there restraints that could effect Katies decision? 2. Is there a point where both music companies would cost the same amount? Why is this important for a consumer to know? 3. What considerations need to go into Katies decision? 4. What strategies did you use to find you answer? 5. How are the strategies the groups used to solve similar? 6. How are the strategies the groups used to solve unique? 7. What connections did you make to the problem?

Solutions
Solution 1: Tables Music Media Mania # of songs Cost $ 0 0 1 2.25 2 4.50 3 6.75 4 9.00 8 18.00 12 27.00 16 36.00 20 24 28 45.00 54.00 63.00 Totally Tubular Tunes # of songs Cost $ 0 15 1 16.50 2 18.00 3 19.50 4 21.00 5 22.50 6 24.00 7 25.50 8 27.00 9 28.50 10 30.00 11 31.50 24 51.00 12 33.00 13 34.50 14 36.00 15 37.50 16 39.00 17 40.50 18 42.00 19 43.50 20 21 22 23 45.00 46.50 48.00 49.50

Howard County Public Schools Office of Secondary Mathematics Curricular Projects has licensed this product under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

HCPSS Worthwhile Math Task Students should notice when using the table that at 20 songs the cost is the same at $45.00. However, if Katie wants to purchase more than 20 songs, it is cheap to choose Totally Tubular Tunes. If she wants to purchase less than 20 songs, it is cheaper to choose Music Media Mania. Solution 2: Representing with Equations, Guess & Check Music Media Mania y = 2.25 x Totally Tubular Tunes y = 1.5 x + 15 Once students determine the equations they can plug in different values for x (number of songs) to get total cost. Students should use the same values for both equations to compare the costs of the two companies. Students may use values for x such as: {0,5,10,15,20,25} Solution 3: Solving a System of Equations Music Media Mania y = 2.25 x Totally Tubular Tunes y = 1.5 x + 15
2.25 x = 1.5 x + 15 .75 x 15 = .75 x .75 x = 20

Using this solution students will find where the cost is the same for both companies when Katies purchases 20 songs. Then students will have to look back to the equations and determine that Totally Tubular Tunes will be cheaper after 20 songs because it only cost $1.50 per song compared to Music Media Mania which charges $2.25 per song.

Howard County Public Schools Office of Secondary Mathematics Curricular Projects has licensed this product under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

HCPSS Worthwhile Math Task Solution 4: Graphing Where the lines intersect at (20,45) represents where companies cost the same for the same amount of songs. Since the line that represents Totally Tubular Tunes is lower than the line the represents Music Media Mania it cheaper to belong to if Katie is purchasing more than 20 songs.

Solution 5: Graphing Calculator Students may also select to graph the functions on the graphing calculator. Using the graphing calculator, students can examine the table of values as well as find the intersection of the two models to represent the situation.

Howard County Public Schools Office of Secondary Mathematics Curricular Projects has licensed this product under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.