Two types of questions: Part A — same store, single vs 6-pack vs 12-pack (which is best value per item?). Part B — different stores sell single, 6-pack and 24-pack at different prices; you need at least N items for the lowest total cost. Work out how to buy them and the minimum you can spend. All amounts use real-world style prices.
Which is the best value at Ocaddo? Work out the cost per item for each option. Show your working.
Question 2 (Part A)
At Sparabola, Yoghurt (100 g pot):
Single pot — £0.65 (1 pot)
4-pack — £2.20 (4 pots)
8-pack — £3.60 (8 pots)
Which is the best value at Sparabola? Work out the cost per item for each option. Show your working.
Question 3 (Part A)
At Adda, Crisps (25 g bag):
Single bag — £0.55 (1 bag)
6-pack — £2.70 (6 bags)
12-pack (multipack) — £4.80 (12 bags)
Which is the best value at Adda? Work out the cost per item for each option. Show your working.
Question 4 (Part A)
At Weight-Rows, Baked beans (420 g tin):
Single tin — £0.85 (1 tin)
4-pack — £3.00 (4 tins)
8-pack — £5.20 (8 tins)
Which is the best value at Weight-Rows? Work out the cost per item for each option. Show your working.
Question 5 (Part A)
At The Co-ordinate Food, Cola (500 ml bottle):
Single bottle — £1.25 (1 bottle)
6-pack — £5.40 (6 bottles)
12-pack — £9.00 (12 bottles)
Which is the best value at The Co-ordinate Food? Work out the cost per item for each option. Show your working.
Question 6 (Part A)
At Sinesburys, Cereal bar (25 g):
Single bar — £0.45 (1 bar)
5-pack — £1.75 (5 bars)
12-pack — £3.60 (12 bars)
Which is the best value at Sinesburys? Work out the cost per item for each option. Show your working.
Part B — By using one store or a combination, find the cheapest way of buying these items
Each store sells the same product as single, 6-pack and 24-pack at different prices. You need to buy at least the given number of items and spend as little as possible. You can use one store only or mix: e.g. two 24-packs from one store and a 6-pack from another.
Question 7 (Part B)
Fizzy drink (330 ml can)
Single £0.85, 6-pack £3.90, 24-pack £14.00
Single £0.90, 6-pack £4.20, 24-pack £12.00
I want to buy at least 68 cans for the lowest total cost. How should I do it? What is the minimum I can spend?
Question 8 (Part B)
Yoghurt (100 g pot)
Single £0.65, 6-pack £2.20, 24-pack £7.50
Single £0.70, 6-pack £2.50, 24-pack £6.00
I want to buy at least 63 pots for the lowest total cost. How should I do it? What is the minimum I can spend?
Question 9 (Part B)
Cola (500 ml bottle)
Single £1.25, 6-pack £5.40, 24-pack £18.00
Single £1.15, 6-pack £5.70, 24-pack £16.80
I want to buy at least 56 bottles for the lowest total cost. How should I do it? What is the minimum I can spend?
Answers
Part A
Question 1: Best value: 12-pack. Single: £0.85 per can. 6-pack: £3.90 ÷ 6 = £0.65 per can. 12-pack: £6.00 ÷ 12 = £0.50 per can. Best value: 12-pack at £0.50 per can.
Question 2: Best value: 8-pack. Single: £0.65 per pot. 4-pack: £2.20 ÷ 4 = £0.55 per pot. 8-pack: £3.60 ÷ 8 = £0.45 per pot. Best value: 8-pack at £0.45 per pot.
Question 3: Best value: 12-pack (multipack). Single: £0.55 per bag. 6-pack: £2.70 ÷ 6 = £0.45 per bag. 12-pack: £4.80 ÷ 12 = £0.40 per bag. Best value: 12-pack at £0.40 per bag.
Question 4: Best value: 8-pack. Single: £0.85 per tin. 4-pack: £3.00 ÷ 4 = £0.75 per tin. 8-pack: £5.20 ÷ 8 = £0.65 per tin. Best value: 8-pack at £0.65 per tin.
Question 5: Best value: 12-pack. Single: £1.25 per bottle. 6-pack: £5.40 ÷ 6 = £0.90 per bottle. 12-pack: £9.00 ÷ 12 = £0.75 per bottle. Best value: 12-pack at £0.75 per bottle.
Question 6: Best value: 12-pack. Single: £0.45 per bar. 5-pack: £1.75 ÷ 5 = £0.35 per bar. 12-pack: £3.60 ÷ 12 = £0.30 per bar. Best value: 12-pack at £0.30 per bar.
Part B
Question 7: Minimum spend £37.40. Buy: 2× 24-pack from Sinesburys; 3× 6-pack from Sparabola; 2× single from Sparabola. Cost per can: Sparabola — single £0.85, 6-pack £0.65, 24-pack £0.58; Sinesburys — single £0.90, 6-pack £0.70, 24-pack £0.50. Cheapest is Sinesburys 24-pack. Buy 2×24 from B = 48 cans for £24.00. Need 20 more: 3×6 from A = 18 for £11.70, then 2 singles from A = £1.70. Total: £24.00 + £11.70 + £1.70 = £37.40.
Question 8: Minimum spend £18.35. Buy: 2× 24-pack from Weight-Rows; 2× 6-pack from The Co-ordinate Food; 3× single from The Co-ordinate Food. Cost per pot: The Co-ordinate Food — single £0.65, 6-pack £0.37, 24-pack £0.31; Weight-Rows — single £0.70, 6-pack £0.42, 24-pack £0.25. Cheapest is Weight-Rows 24-pack. Buy 2×24 from B = 48 for £12.00. Need 15 more: 2×6 from A = 12 for £4.40, then 3 singles from A = £1.95. Total: £12.00 + £4.40 + £1.95 = £18.35.
Question 9: Minimum spend £41.60. Buy: 2× 24-pack from Ocaddo; 1× 6-pack from Ocaddo; 2× single from Ocaddo. Cost per bottle: Adda — single £1.25, 6-pack £0.90, 24-pack £0.75; Ocaddo — single £1.15, 6-pack £0.95, 24-pack £0.70. Cheapest is Ocaddo 24-pack. Buy 2×24 from B = 48 for £33.60. Need 8 more: 1×6 from B = 6 for £5.70, then 2 singles from B = £2.30. Total: £33.60 + £5.70 + £2.30 = £41.60.
