Solve Real World Percentage Problems Using AI

Apply percentage calculations to authentic financial and everyday problem solving scenarios.

Teaching Context:
Designed for Year 7 to Year 9 Mathematics units covering percentages, discounts and simple interest.

Basic AI Prompt:
Solve this: A $50 item is discounted by 20 percent. What is the sale price?

Enhanced AI Prompt:
You are a Year 8 Maths student practising percentage problems. Create three real world maths questions involving discounts, tax or profit margin. Then solve each problem step by step, showing all working clearly.

Spice it Up (Optional Extension):
Request the problems as a shopping-themed worksheet or as a quiz.

Lesson Implementation:
Begin with a class warm-up calculating simple percentages. Introduce the AI prompt and have students input it to see sample problems. In pairs, students modify the prompt to generate unique scenarios. Provide a problem-solving scaffold to structure their working out, and encourage students to create visual representations of their problems using tables or bar models.

Students then swap problems and solve each other’s examples. Extension students may include GST or compare methods of calculating profit. Use tools like Google Sheets for calculations or Jamboard for collaborative work. This activity connects maths to real life and encourages student-created content.

Got ideas on different ways to use this prompt? Share them with the class in the comments below!

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