Lesson 1: Unit Pricing - The Better Deal

   Constructing Knowledge


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Determining the "better deal" depends upon both the price, the quality, and the quantity of the product being purchased. Price and quantity can be determined by unit price and need. Most often, buying in bulk will lead to a lower unit price. However, does a person actually "need" as many units as they would be buying? The quality of a product is determined by whether the product performs well for its intended purpose. Quality is not measured by unit price.

In this course, answering the question, "What is the better deal?" should take into account multiple factors: unit price, need, and quality. Always show calculations for unit prices when making a price comparison, but be sure to also write a short explanation about which option would be the better deal for the specific situation.

EXAMPLE 1

Jim's Hardware advertises drywall at $7.50 for a single sheet. Danielle needs to repair several walls in a home she is renovating. The contractor's deal for the same drywall is advertised as 10 sheets for $70. What is the better deal for Danielle?

Solution


Step 1: Calculate the unit price of each option.

The price of $7.50 for 1 sheet is already a unit price, $7.50/sheet.

\(\text{unit price}=\frac{\text{price}}{\text{number of items}}\)

unit price = price ÷ number of items
= $70 ÷ 10 pieces
= $7.00 / sheet

Step 2: Determine the better deal accounting for unit price, quality, and quantity.

By unit price, the 10 sheets of drywall is cheaper by 50 cents per sheet.
Depending on how many sheets are required to renovate the home, it may be a better deal to buy a set of 10 sheets instead of individual sheets.


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