Whole rolls transfer task

Name ____________________ Date ____________________

A display needs at least 8 metres of ribbon.

The ribbon is identical at both suppliers. Choose one supplier and buy only whole rolls from that supplier. Rolls can be bought repeatedly. There are no fees, discounts or refunds. You may cut ribbon and keep the extra length. Find the least cash paid now to obtain at least the required length; do not mix suppliers.

Find dollars per metre. Work out the least whole-roll purchase from each supplier, the length obtained, the total paid and the extra length. Choose the cheaper purchase for this display and explain how the roll condition affects your answer.

A separate display needs at least 14 metres. Use the same suppliers, prices and rules. No ribbon from the first display is available. Work out the least whole-roll purchases, costs and extra lengths. Which purchase is cheaper now? Explain.

A fictional learner concludes, “Always choose the shorter roll, because it leaves less ribbon.” Use the two displays to judge that claim. Do the prices tell you whether the extra ribbon will be useful later? Explain what you can and cannot decide from the information supplied.