Maths
Multi-step problem solver: event budget
For Years 8 to 12 Mathematics pupils, calculate an event budget from ticket sales and costs, leave a clear working trail and check with an estimate.
Read the material
For Years 8 to 12 Mathematics pupils, calculate an event budget from ticket sales and costs, leave a clear working trail and check with an estimate.
Pupil worksheet. Use the preview for diagrams and layout.
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Multi-step problem solver: event budget Pupil activity Audience: Years 8 to 12 Mathematics pupils Calculate event income and costs from unit prices, then find the surplus and check it with an estimate. Problem A school event sells 48 standard tickets at £8.50 and 32 concession tickets at £5.00. The venue costs £210. Materials cost £2.25 per attendee. Find the surplus before other costs. 1. Estimate first Round 48 standard tickets to 50 and keep the unit price £8.50. Estimate My calculation Estimated amount Standard ticket income 50 × £8.50 £________ Concession ticket income 32 × £5.00 £________ Total estimated income £________ Materials for about 80 attendees 80 × £2.25 £________ Venue and estimated materials £________ Estimated surplus income − costs £________ Pupil activity Page 1 of 2
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Multi-step problem solver: event budget 2. Calculate exactly Amount My working Exact total Standard ticket income £________ Concession ticket income £________ Total income £________ Materials for all attendees £________ Total costs including venue £________ Surplus before other costs £________ 3. Compare Is your exact answer close to your estimate? Explain with one number: ________ Pupil activity Page 2 of 2
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Multi-step problem solver: event budget Teacher key and guidance supporting this exact edition Teacher check Exact income is 48 × £8.50 + 32 × £5 = £408 + £160 = £568. There are 80 attendees, so materials cost 80 × £2.25 = £180. Total costs are £210 + £180 = £390. Surplus is £568 − £390 = £178. Estimate: 50 × £8.50 = £425; 32 × £5 = £160; estimated income £585. Materials are £180 and venue £210, so estimated costs are £390 and estimated surplus is £195. The exact surplus is close to this estimate. Teacher companion Page 1 of 1
A teaching sequence
Calculate event income and costs from unit prices, then find the surplus and check it with an estimate.
Estimate the ticket income
Estimate income by rounding 48 standard tickets to 50 while keeping the £8.50 price.
Which quantity did you round while retaining the £8.50 price?
Calculate income and costs
Calculate each ticket-income total and add them. Find materials cost, add the venue cost and subtract total costs from income.
Have materials been counted for every attendee before subtracting costs?
Compare estimate and exact surplus
Estimate the surplus independently and compare it with the exact result.
Which number explains why the two results are close or different?
Before you teach
Look for the thinking behind an answer, choose the support your class needs and leave room for an independent response.
What to look for
Exact income is £568 and exact costs are £390, giving a £178 surplus. An estimate using 50 × £8.50 plus 32 × £5.00 for income and 80 × £2.25 plus £210 for costs gives about £195. Ask, “Is £178 close enough to your estimate to be plausible?”
Give a little support
Separate ticket income from costs in the table. Check that 48 + 32 = 80 attendees before calculating the materials total.
Take the idea further
Calculate how many standard tickets are needed for a chosen surplus, keeping other figures fixed.
Things to keep in mind
This fictional budget excludes unstated costs and is not a real forecast.
Keep the idea. Make it yours.
Bring your topic, learning goal and class context to PLAI™, then review what you create.
Another starting point
Explore a different teaching task from this selection.
Multi-step problem solver: revision-pack budget
Read the prices, quantities and number sold. Decide what each figure represents before calculating.
Explore resourceIdeas to try with your class
Sample teaching perspectives on what to try, what to adapt and what to watch for.
Meet The Creators
Meet a creator whose teaching interests connect with this template.
Coffee Before Copies
The event budget separates 48 standard tickets at £8.50, 32 concession tickets at £5, £210 venue hire and £2.25 materials per attendee. Pupils estimate first, then calculate income and costs exactly for 80 people.
Chalk Dust & Checklists
For Years 8 to 12, the estimate page sets a benchmark before the exact arithmetic. The final comparison asks pupils to use one number to explain whether the result is close to the estimate.
Pocketful of Stories
Record ticket income by type before adding it, and work out materials for all 80 attendees separately from venue hire. This keeps fixed cost and per-person cost distinct.
Five More Minutes
The stated result is surplus before other costs, not final event profit. Keep the estimate’s rounding explicit and use the exact totals for the final answer.