The ice-cream van money quest

Quick answer

By solving the ice-cream van money quest, you will learn how to use prices, calculate change, work with multipacks, and make choices based on money – all important skills for real-life shopping!

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to:

• Work out how much items cost when buying multipacks
• Calculate how much change you should get after a purchase
• Compare prices to make smart choices with your money
• Use real-world maths to plan a shopping trip

Why this matters

Shopping with money is one of the most practical uses of maths that you’ll use every day. Whether you’re buying ice cream, toys, or groceries, you need to understand prices, how to count money, and how to work out change. This skill helps you make good choices and avoid being short-changed – or spending too much!

Learning these skills also helps you plan ahead. If you want to buy a specific item, you can check how much it costs and how many times you can afford it with your pocket money. These are the kinds of skills that help you become a confident shopper, no matter how old you are!

How it works

When you go shopping, you use maths in a few simple steps:

1. Look at the prices of items you want to buy
2. Count up the total cost of everything you’re buying
3. Give the shopkeeper the right amount of money
4. Check the change you get back

For example, if you want to buy 3 ice creams that cost £1.50 each, you can add them up or multiply: 3 × £1.50 = £4.50. If you give the shopkeeper £5, they should give you £0.50 back.

Examples you can see

Let’s imagine you are going to the ice-cream van with £5. You can buy ice creams for £1.50 each. Here’s how you can use maths to make smart choices:

• One ice cream = £1.50
• Two ice creams = 2 × £1.50 = £3.00
• Three ice creams = 3 × £1.50 = £4.50
• Four ice creams = 4 × £1.50 = £6.00

But wait – you only have £5! So, you can’t buy four ice creams. You can only buy three, and you’ll get 50p change.

Let’s try another example. You want to buy a pack of 6 ice creams that costs £8.00. That’s more expensive than buying 6 single ice creams (which would cost £9.00). So, buying the pack is a better deal!

Try it as a mini adventure

The Ice-Cream Van Money Quest

You are going to the ice-cream van with £10. You can choose between these options:

• Single ice creams at £1.20 each
• 3-pack ice creams at £3.00
• 6-pack ice creams at £5.50

Your challenge is to work out:

1. How many single ice creams can you buy with £10?
2. How many 3-packs can you buy with £10?
3. How many 6-packs can you buy with £10?
4. Which option gives you the most ice creams for your money?

Step-by-step challenge:

1st time: £10 ÷ £1.20 = ? ice creams (round down to whole number)

2nd time: £10 ÷ £3.00 = ? 3-packs

3rd time: £10 ÷ £5.50 = ? 6-packs

4th time: Compare how many ice creams you get in each case

5th time: Decide which option is the best value

Let’s say you can buy 8 single ice creams (8 × £1.20 = £9.60) and get 40p change.

You can buy 3 3-packs (3 × £3.00 = £9.00) and get £1.00 change.

You can buy 1 6-pack (1 × £5.50 = £5.50) and get £4.50 change.

So, the 3-packs give you more ice creams for less money – a smart choice!

Common mistakes

• Mistake: Thinking you can buy 9 single ice creams with £10 when 9 × £1.20 = £10.80, which is over your budget.
• Why it happens: Not checking if the total is more or less than your money.
• Fix: Always double-check your total before spending.

• Mistake: Adding up the wrong prices when working out change.
• Why it happens: Getting confused with pounds and pence.
• Fix: Write down prices clearly and add them slowly, one by one.

• Mistake: Thinking that a bigger pack always costs more.
• Why it happens: Not comparing the cost per item.
• Fix: Work out how much each ice cream costs in a pack and compare it to single prices.

Parent and carer guide

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

• Practising with real coins and notes at home
• Going shopping together and letting them calculate totals
• Using a calculator to check answers, but not doing all the work
• Encouraging them to think about how much they could buy with their pocket money
• Helping them write out their calculations neatly

Remember, it’s okay if they make mistakes – they’re learning! Try to keep the focus on the fun of shopping and the satisfaction of getting the right change.

If your child gets stuck, ask questions like:

• “How much would 5 ice creams cost?”
• “What’s the difference between £5 and £4.50?”
• “Which is the better deal?”

These prompts help them think through the maths without doing it for them.

Practice questions

1. How much would 4 ice creams cost if each costs £1.30?
2. You have £6.50. Can you buy 5 ice creams at £1.20 each? How much change would you get?
3. A 4-pack ice cream costs £4.80. How much does each ice cream cost?
4. You have £7.00. You buy 2 3-packs for £3.00 each. How much change do you get?
5. Which is better: buying 5 single ice creams at £1.10 each or a 5-pack for £5.00?

Answers:

1. 4 × £1.30 = £5.20
2. 5 × £1.20 = £6.00. £6.50 – £6.00 = £0.50 change
3. £4.80 ÷ 4 = £1.20 each
4. 2 × £3.00 = £6.00. £7.00 – £6.00 = £1.00 change
5. 5 × £1.10 = £5.50. 5-pack = £5.00. So, the 5-pack is better!

FAQ

How do I work out how much change I should get?

Subtract the total cost from the amount you gave. For example, if you pay £5 for something that costs £3.20, your change is £5.00 – £3.20 = £1.80.

Why is it better to buy multipacks?

Multipacks often cost less per item than buying them separately. This saves you money in the long run.

What if I don’t have enough money?

You can choose fewer items or find a cheaper option. It’s good to plan ahead and check how much you can afford.

How can I practice this at home?

Use play money to set up a shop, or ask your child to calculate the cost of their favourite snacks before going shopping.

Can I use multiplication for this?

Yes! If you buy 3 ice creams at £1.50 each, you can multiply 3 × £1.50 = £4.50. This is faster than adding them up!