Gas Prices

Posted by Beth Lynne May 23, 2007

Gas prices keep going up, up, and up—a record high now. So, let’s turn it into a learning experience. Get those calculators out!

How about some word problems?

On Monday, the price per gallon was $2.92 and on Wednesday it was $2.97. By Friday, the price had gone up another 7 cents. How much did it cost Johnny to fill up his Ford Expedition’s 28 gallon tank on each day? How much more did it cost to fill it up between Monday and Friday? (By next Monday, how much interest will Johnny have to pay on his loan for the gas he is using?).

Johnny is driving to Florida this summer from New Jersey, approximately 1500 miles. If he gets 14 miles per gallon, with his 28 gallon tank, how many times will he have to fill up between NJ and Florida? If gas costs an average of $4.14 a gallon (and who knows, it probably will), how much will he spend on gas round trip?

Have students keep track of the gas prices of their favorite gas stations for two weeks and have them graph the results. Discuss what trends they notice. Is any particular brand less expensive than the others? (And at this point, does it make a noticeable difference?)

There are a multitude of teachable moments that can come out of this current rise in gas prices, and not just math lessons either. How about a history lesson on the horrible gas crisis of the 1970’s?