The Piggy Bank Problems

This is a live Google Doc containing 11+ problems that frame Algebra and Pre Calc concepts in the context of saving money in a piggy bank. There are links to live slideshows for each problem set. In addition, the doc links to a folder with other resources that will aide in instruction/assessment of the content. The doc will be continuously updated and will eventually be linked to videos. Slides from the first problem set are included in the preview. Enjoy!

General Piggy Bank Problem: You start with a certain amount of money in your piggy bank.  Then you add money every day thereafter based upon a certain savings scheme.  Based upon the various savings schemes, we can thoughtfully frame questions in the context of the problems to discuss various algebraic topics.

General Lesson Procedure: Each problem is one students should find intuitive and that they should be able to solve without much prompting.  The teacher can use how each student solves the problem to assess prior knowledge.  Less mathematically mature students may require manipulatives - like counters - and more mathematically mature students may be able to use graphs, tables, and even may come up with formulas or equations.  The teacher should first assess students’ prior knowledge and then use how students solve the problem to scaffold on the objective content.  The teacher can modify each problem’s parameters to fit the computational needs of the students -e.g. integers, fractions, or decimals.  

Topics:

• Graphing
• Slope
• Slope Formula
• Y - Intercept
• X - Intercept
• Evaluating a function
• Domain/Range Restrictions
• Solving a linear equation
• Systems of Equations
• Zero and One Solutions to Systems of Equations
• Parallel Lines
• Arithmetic Sequence
• Functions
• Domain/Range
• Natural Numbers
• Real Numbers
• Geometric Sequence
• Linear Growth vs. Exponential Growth
• Simple Interest
• Percents
• Compound Interest
• Exponential Growth
• Continuous Interest
• Exponential Growth
• Arithmetic Series
• Evaluating Formulas
• Geometric Series
• Fractions
• Infinity