Comparing prices

Quick answer

You can compare prices by looking at the cost of different items and deciding which one is cheaper or more expensive. This helps you save money when shopping!

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to compare prices of different items and decide which one is the cheapest or most expensive.

• You can look at prices and tell which item costs more or less
• You can find the difference between two prices
• You can use money to decide which item gives the best value
• You can solve simple problems about shopping and saving money

Why this matters

Comparing prices is a really useful skill that helps you make smart choices when you're shopping. Whether you're helping your parent buy groceries, or you're saving up for a toy, knowing how to compare prices means you can get the best deal. It's like being a detective, but instead of finding clues, you're finding the best value for your money!

When you learn to compare prices, you're also building skills that help with maths at school. You'll get better at addition, subtraction, and understanding how money works. These skills are useful for everyday life too – like when you go to the shop, plan a party, or even share snacks with friends.

How it works

Comparing prices is simple. Here’s how you do it:

1. Look at the prices of two or more items
2. Write down the prices
3. Compare the numbers to see which is bigger or smaller
4. Decide which item is cheaper or more expensive

You can also find the difference between the prices by subtracting one from the other. This tells you how much more or less one item costs than another.

Examples you can see

Let’s imagine you’re at the shop with your parent. You see these items:

Which fruit is the cheapest? Which is the most expensive?

Answer: The apple is the cheapest at 45p, and the banana is the most expensive at 60p.

Let’s try another example:

Which is more expensive? What’s the difference in price?

Answer: The chocolate bar is more expensive. To find the difference, we subtract 85p from £1.20:

£1.20 - 85p = 35p

The chocolate bar costs 35p more than the candy packet.

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Shopping Detective

You are a detective who has been hired to help your family shop for the best deals. Your mission is to compare prices of items and choose the best value.

Step 1: You find two packs of pencils. One costs 65p and the other costs 80p. Which one should you choose?

Step 2: You see two packs of stickers. One costs £1.10 and the other costs £1.00. Which one is cheaper?

Step 3: You find two bags of crisps. One costs 95p and the other costs £1.05. What’s the difference?

Mini challenge: Draw or write down your answers for each step. Then, explain why you chose each item.

Common mistakes

• Mistake: Thinking that a bigger number always means a more expensive item.
• Why it happens: When comparing prices, people sometimes forget that £1.50 is more than 90p, even though 150 is bigger than 90.
• Fix: Always remember that the decimal point shows where pounds end and pence begin. So 90p is less than £1.00.

• Mistake: Confusing the difference in price with the total cost.
• Why it happens: Children may add the prices instead of subtracting them when trying to find how much more one item costs.
• Fix: When you want to know the difference, subtract the smaller price from the bigger one.

• Mistake: Not checking if prices are written in the same unit (pence or pounds).
• Why it happens: Sometimes prices are written in pounds and pence mixed up, which can confuse children.
• Fix: Always make sure you're comparing the same units. If one is in pence and one in pounds, convert them first.

Parent and carer guide

As a parent or carer, you can help your child by:

1. Shopping together and asking your child to compare prices
2. Letting them handle real money and practice counting
3. Playing games where you pretend to shop and compare items
4. Encouraging them to ask questions like “Why is this more expensive?”
5. Using everyday situations to talk about money and value

Don’t worry if they make mistakes – it’s part of learning. Instead of correcting them, ask questions like:

• “What do you think is the cheaper one?”
• “How much more does that cost?”
• “Can you show me how you worked that out?”

Remember to keep the tone positive and fun. Learning about money can be exciting when it's connected to real-life shopping!

Practice questions

1. Which is cheaper: £1.30 or 95p?
2. Find the difference between £2.10 and £1.50.
3. Which is more expensive: 85p or £1.00?
4. What is the difference between £1.25 and 75p?
5. Compare these prices: 60p, £1.00, 85p. Which is the cheapest?

Answers:

1. 95p is cheaper
2. £0.60 (or 60p)
3. £1.00 is more expensive
4. 50p
5. 60p is the cheapest

FAQ

Why do we need to compare prices?

Comparing prices helps us get the best value for our money. It means we can choose items that give us the most for what we spend, which helps us save money.

How do I know which item is more expensive?

You can look at the numbers and compare them. If one number is bigger than another, that item costs more. If you’re not sure, you can line them up and look at the digits from left to right.

Can I use money to compare prices?

Yes! You can use real coins and notes to help you compare prices. Try putting the money out on the table and see how much you need for each item.

What if prices are written in pounds and pence?

It’s important to make sure you’re comparing the same units. If one price is in pence and another in pounds, convert them so they’re both in the same unit before comparing.

How can I practice comparing prices at home?

You can look at price tags, use toy shops or online games, or even make up your own prices and compare them. The more you practice, the easier it gets!