Warm-up
How do you usually get to school?
- Bus
- Ride in a car
- Drive myself
- Walk or bike
Hands up for your answer.
Top story
Oil jumped, and stocks fell.
- Fears of renewed U.S.-Iran fighting pushed oil prices up on Friday.
- The Dow fell 653 points as investors worried about higher energy costs.
- Gas is made from crude oil, so oil prices affect the price at the pump.
$4.27
the national average for a gallon of regular gas, per AAA
Talk about itIf gas costs more, what would you or your family cut back on first?
Your money: What a drive really costs
Miles ÷ mpg × price = trip cost.
A price per gallon becomes a price per trip when you know your car's mpg.
- 100 miles ÷ 25 mpg = 4 gallons
- 4 gallons × $4.27 = $17.08
- 4 gallons × $0.50 more = $2.00 more
TakeawayBefore a long drive, divide miles by mpg, then multiply by the price.
Guess the number
Gas is $4.27 a gallon. About how much does it cost to fill a 12-gallon tank from empty?
about $51
12 gallons × $4.27 = $51.24, which rounds to about $51.
Pop quiz
Car A gets 20 mpg. Car B gets 40 mpg. Gas costs $4 a gallon. Both drive 200 miles. Which costs less in gas?
- ACar B, $20 less
- BCar A, $20 less
- CCar B, $10 less
- DThey cost the same
A. Car B, $20 less. Car A uses 200 ÷ 20 = 10 gallons, so $40. Car B uses 200 ÷ 40 = 5 gallons, so $20. Car B costs $20 less.
Discuss
Gas costs about $4.27 a gallon. Is it worth it to drive a friend across town for a $5 meal? What would make you say no?
Worksheet
Today's worksheet
The story, the money lesson and questions, with an answer key on its own page.
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