How Can Maths Help You Become A Smart Shopper?

In our daily lives, we often come across advertisements, sales, and discounts. Stores offer lower prices to attract customers, but how can you be sure you're getting the best deal? The answer lies in using simple maths to make your shopping experience both smarter and more economical.

Where Can You Learn These Skills?

These practical maths skills can be found in your school textbooks, like the ones from the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). You'll typically encounter these concepts in maths classes for students in grades 6 to 10. NCERT books cover topics such as percentages, which help you calculate discounts, and comparisons of prices, which help you make wise choices while shopping. Other maths concepts like fractions, decimals, ratios and proportions are also essential in understanding comparative pricing and planning your purchases.

The Easy Rule for Quick Math

One of the simplest and most effective ways that maths can make your shopping smarter is by using the "10 Rule." This is a trick that helps you quickly figure out discounts in your head.

Imagine you're out shopping for a sweater priced at ₹800, and there's a 20% discount. How can you easily find the discount amount and the final price?

To discover a 10 per cent discount, simply move the decimal point one place to the left: ₹80. Since 20 per cent is double 10 per cent you can quickly double ₹80, which is ₹160. Subtract this from the original price, and you get ₹800 - ₹160 = ₹640. You've found your final price in just a few seconds!

This easy rule helps you make smart decisions and calculate your savings while shopping.

Price Comparison Made Simple

Maths isn't just about discounts; it's also a handy tool to help you choose between products. You'll often come across items in different sizes or quantities, and comparing prices per unit can be a game-changer.

You're at the store, and you need to pick between two bags of rice. Bag A costs ₹100 for 2 kg, while bag B is ₹60 for 1.5 kg. How do you figure out which one is a better deal?

To decide which is a better deal, calculate the price for 1 kg of rice.

For Bag A, it's ₹100 / 2 kg = ₹50 per kg.

For Bag B, it's ₹60 / 1.5 kg = ₹40 per kg.

Clearly, Bag B offers a better price per kilogram at ₹40, while Bag A costs ₹50 for each kilogram.

This simple maths trick helps you compare prices and ensures you get the most for your money.

Planning Your Shopping

Maths can also help you plan your purchases. Imagine you want to make sure you have enough coffee to last for a month. You typically enjoy two cups of coffee every day, and each pack contains 250 grams of coffee.

How many packs should you buy to ensure you have enough coffee for the whole month?

First, figure out how much coffee you consume in one day. Two cups a day means 2 x 250 grams = 500 grams.

In a month (30 days), you'll need 30 x 500 grams = 15,000 grams of coffee.

Since each pack contains 250 grams, you'll need 15,000 grams / 250 grams per pack, which is 60 packs.

Simple maths helps you plan your purchases, so you don't run out of essentials or buy too much.

Also check - Mastering Maths: Tips For Excelling Your Class 11 Curriculum

The Combo Deal Mystery

Sometimes, it's not just about individual items; it's about finding combos that offer extra value. Figuring out which one is better is where maths can be your superpower.

You're shopping for a new smartphone and accessories. The phone alone costs ₹20,000, and the accessories add up to ₹5,000. However, there's a bundle deal for the phone and accessories together, priced at ₹23,000. Is the bundle worth it?

Solution: Use the formula for the combo deal:

z = (1 - r)(x + y)

Where:

• x is the price of the phone (₹20,000)

• y is the price of the accessories (₹5,000)

• r is the discount on the combo (expressed as a decimal, e.g., 10% is 0.1)

Let's assume the discount is 10%, so r = 0.1. Plug in these values:

z = (1 - 0.1)(20,000 + 5,000) = 0.9 * 25,000 = ₹22,500.

Comparing this price (₹22,500) to the total cost of the phone and accessories bought separately (₹20,000 + ₹5,000 = ₹25,000), it's clear that the bundle is the better choice.

These real-life examples show how simple maths empowers you to make cost-effective decisions when faced with combo deals.

Also check - Financial Mathematics: An Essential Tool for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Overcoming Maths Anxiety with Technology

While maths is a valuable tool, some people feel anxious about doing calculations, especially in a store. This feeling is called "maths anxiety." However, there's a solution to this: smartphones. In today's digital age, technology can quickly do the maths for you, making shopping stress-free and accessible.

You're shopping for a new laptop, and you want to know the final price after a 15% discount. Instead of doing the maths manually, you use a calculator app on your smartphone. The original price is ₹45,000. What's the final price?

Simply enter the original price and discount percentage into the calculator app: ₹45,000 - (15 per cent of ₹45,000). The app instantly provides you with the final price: ₹38,250.

In conclusion, mathematics plays a crucial role in making your shopping experience smarter and more cost-effective. Simple maths tricks, like the 10 Rule for discounts, price comparisons, and planning purchases, help you become a more informed shopper.

Real-life examples illustrate how these maths skills can be used in everyday shopping scenarios, ensuring you make the best choices. Whether it's calculating discounts, comparing values, planning your purchases, or deciding on combo deals, maths is a valuable tool that ensures you get the best value for your money.

For those who feel anxious about maths, technology, in the form of smartphone apps, is here to help. So the next time you're shopping and encounter a discount, remember that simple maths can lead you to great savings and a more intelligent shopping experience. Mathematics truly is your secret weapon for making shopping smarter and more economical.