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Maths Games

Restaurant menu maths

Use menus to practise addition, multiplication, money and percentages.

Quick answer

You can use restaurant menus to practice addition, multiplication, money skills, and percentages – all while pretending to order food!

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to add prices, multiply food items, work out totals, and use percentages to find discounts or tips – just like real restaurant customers! Success signs:
  • You can add up the cost of 3 different menu items
  • You can multiply the cost of one item by how many you want
  • You can work out what a 10% tip or 25% discount looks like
  • You can use a menu to plan a meal and stay within a budget

Why this matters

Restaurant menu maths helps you understand how money works in real life. Whether you’re planning a family meal, saving up for a treat, or pretending to be a chef, you’ll use these maths skills every day. It also helps you think about how much things cost and how to save money or plan a budget.

How it works

Restaurant menu maths uses simple maths skills:
  1. First, you look at the prices of different foods
  2. Then, you add them up to find the total cost
  3. You might multiply by how many of something you want
  4. You can also find discounts or tips using percentages

Examples you can see

Let’s say you’re at a restaurant and you want to order a meal. Here are some ways to use maths with the menu. Example 1: Adding prices You order:
  • A burger for £5
  • A side salad for £3
  • A drink for £2
To find the total, you add: £5 + £3 + £2 = £10 Example 2: Multiplying You order 3 sandwiches, and each one costs £4. To find the total, you multiply: 3 × £4 = £12 Example 3: Working out a tip Your meal costs £20, and you want to leave a 10% tip. To find the tip: 10% of £20 = £2 So the tip is £2, and the total is £22. Example 4: Finding a discount You have a £5 discount on a £15 meal. To find the new total: £15 – £5 = £10

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Restaurant Challenge! You are going to plan a meal for your family using a restaurant menu. You have £30 to spend. Here’s your challenge:
  1. Choose 2 main dishes (each must cost under £15)
  2. Choose 1 side dish (under £6)
  3. Choose 1 drink (under £4)
  4. Work out the total cost
  5. If you want to leave a 10% tip, add that to the total
Let’s say you choose:
  • A pizza (£12)
  • A burger (£8)
  • A salad (£4)
  • A juice (£2)
First, add the prices: £12 + £8 + £4 + £2 = £26 Then, add a 10% tip: 10% of £26 = £2.60 Total = £26 + £2.60 = £28.60 You have £30, so you can afford it!

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Forgetting to add the tip or discount to the final total
    Why it happens: Not reading the question carefully
    Fix: Always double-check if the question asks for a tip or discount to be added or taken off
  • Mistake: Mixing up multiplication and addition
    Why it happens: Not understanding what “times” means
    Fix: Think of multiplication as equal groups. For example, 3 × £4 = £4 + £4 + £4
  • Mistake: Adding decimals wrong (like £2.99 + £1.01 = £3.00)
    Why it happens: Not lining up the decimal points
    Fix: Use a calculator or write down the numbers carefully

Parent and carer guide

You can help your child practice restaurant menu maths in just 5-10 minutes a day:
  • Ask your child to add up the cost of their favourite menu items
  • Let them plan a meal for a pretend dinner party
  • Use real menus from local restaurants or online
  • Practice calculating tips or discounts together
  • Ask them to estimate costs before adding them up
What to say: “Let’s pretend we’re ordering food. How much do you think we’ll spend?” “Can you find a 20% discount on a £10 meal?” “Let’s see if we can make a budget for a family meal.” What not to worry about: Don’t worry if your child makes a mistake. Use it as a learning moment. Remember, even grown-ups sometimes get confused with money!

Practice questions

  1. You order 4 coffees at £2.50 each. How much do you spend?
  2. A meal costs £18. You get a 10% discount. What is the new price?
  3. You order a pizza (£12), a salad (£4), and 2 drinks (£2.50 each). What is the total?
  4. You want to leave a 15% tip on a £20 meal. How much is the tip?
  5. You have £25. You order a burger (£6), a side dish (£5), and 2 desserts (£3 each). Do you have enough money?
Answers:
  1. 4 × £2.50 = £10
  2. 10% of £18 = £1.80, so £18 – £1.80 = £16.20
  3. £12 + £4 + (2 × £2.50) = £12 + £4 + £5 = £21
  4. 15% of £20 = £3
  5. £6 + £5 + (2 × £3) = £6 + £5 + £6 = £17. Yes, you have enough!

FAQ

What is restaurant menu maths?

Restaurant menu maths is using the prices on a menu to practice addition, multiplication, money skills, and percentages.

Why is it useful?

It helps you learn how to handle money, budget, and solve real-life problems involving prices and discounts.

Can I do this at home?

Yes! You can use online menus, real menus, or even make up your own pretend menu.

How can I make it fun?

Turn it into a game. Pretend you’re the chef or the customer, or plan a special family meal with a budget.

What age is this for?

This is great for children aged 4-12, and can be adapted for any level. Younger kids can add simple prices, while older kids can use percentages and discounts.