Example 2 - converting euros to pounds
The graph converts euros to pounds.
Mrs Case has £200 holiday money which she changes into euros.
On holiday she spends €180 of her holiday money.
At the end of her holiday, she changes her remaining holiday money back into pounds.
How much of her holiday money does she have in pounds?
1. What do I have to do?
Read the question through twice.
Highlight or underline the important pieces of information in the question.
2. What information do I need?
The highlighted words are the most important ones.
What is the question asking?
The question asks how much money in pounds Mrs Case has left. The answer therefore needs to be in pounds. The number does not necessarily have to be a whole number.
3. What information don’t I need?
The fact Mrs Case goes on holiday is not important.
4. What maths can I do?
Step A
Use the graph to convert £200 to euros.
Do this by converting £20 into euros then multiplying your answer by 10.
\(\pounds 20 = \euro 22.50\)
\(\euro 22.50 \times 10 = \euro 225\)
Therefore \(\pounds 200 = \euro 225\).
Step B
On holiday Mrs Case spends €180 so subtract this from the total amount to check how much she has left.
\(225 - 180 = \euro 45\)
She has €45 left.
Step C
Convert €45 back into pounds.
Do this by converting €4.50 to pounds and multiplying your answer by 10.
\(\euro 4.5 = \pounds 4\)
\(\pounds 4 \times 10 = \pounds 40\)
Therefore \(\euro 45 = \pounds 40\).
Mrs Case has £40 left after her holiday.
5. Is my solution correct?
It is important to check any calculations at the end.
Pay particular attention to checking the scale on the graph. Check that the values that have been read are correct.
6. Have I completed everything?
The answer is supposed to be an amount in pounds which it is.
Make sure the answer has the units on it.
Nothing else was asked for.