Money Math · Lesson Plan
Calculating Down Payments Using Fractions
A money-math lesson connecting fractions to a real purchase term: the down payment. Students learn what a down payment is, then calculate one as a fraction of a total price and find the remaining balance.
For Teachers
Lesson at a glance
- Topic
- Money Math
- Grade Level
- Grades 6–9
- Resource Type
- Lesson + Worksheet
- Estimated Time
- 30–45 minutes
- Format
- Reading + practice worksheet
- Materials
- Printable lesson, worksheet, calculators
What Students Learn
Learning objectives
- Define a down payment
- Calculate a down payment as a fraction of a total
- Review multiplying fractions and whole numbers
- Find the remaining balance after a down payment
- Apply the skill to real purchase scenarios
Materials
What you’ll need
- Printed copies of the lesson and worksheet (one per student)
- Calculators
- Whiteboard or projector for worked examples
Key Terms
Vocabulary
- Down payment
- An amount paid up front toward a total purchase.
- Total price
- The full cost of an item.
- Balance
- The amount still owed after a down payment.
- Fraction
- A number showing part of a whole.
- Partial payment
- Paying part of a total at one time.
- Product
- The result of multiplying.
For Teachers
Lesson plan
Estimated time: one 30–45 minute class period.
Lesson sequence
- Introduction (5 min). Define a down payment with an everyday example (a deposit on a big purchase).
- Read the method (10 min). Students read how a down payment as a fraction works.
- Worked example (10 min). Take a fraction of a total to find the down payment, then subtract to find the balance.
- Worksheet (12 min). Students practice; the answer key is included for teacher use.
Assessment
Assess the worked example and worksheet practice.
Discussion
Discussion questions
- What is a down payment, and when do people make one?
- How do you calculate a down payment that is a fraction of the total?
- How do you find the balance left after the down payment?
- Why do sellers ask for a down payment on big purchases?
- How can you check your down-payment answer?
Printable Lesson & Worksheet
Down Payments Using Fractions — Lesson & Worksheet
Printable lesson plus practice problems, with an answer key for teacher use.
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