Functional Skills Level 2 — Ratio and Proportion

Best Buys and Unit Pricing

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The Unit Price Method

To find the best value, calculate the cost per unit (per gram, per litre, per item) for each option. The lowest unit price is the best buy.

\(\text{Unit price} = \dfrac{\text{total cost}}{\text{quantity}}\)
Unit Price Comparison Pack A 400 g for £2.80 £2.80 ÷ 400 = 0.7p per gram Pack B ✓ Better Value 600 g for £3.90 £3.90 ÷ 600 = 0.65p per gram Price per 100 g Method Unit price per 100 g = (total cost ÷ total grams) × 100 Pack A: 400 g / £2.80 £2.80 ÷ 400 × 100 = 70p per 100 g Pack B: 600 g / £3.90 £3.90 ÷ 600 × 100 = 65p per 100 g ✓

Example 1: Brand A: 400 g for £1.20. Brand B: 650 g for £1.95. Which is better value?

Step 1
Brand A: \(£1.20 \div 400 = £0.003\) per gram (0.3p/g)
Step 2
Brand B: \(£1.95 \div 650 = £0.003\) per gram (0.3p/g)
Step 3
Both cost the same per gram — equal value.

Example 2: Orange juice: 1 litre for £1.08 or 1.5 litres for £1.50. Best value?

Step 1
Small: \(£1.08 \div 1 = £1.08\) per litre
Step 2
Large: \(£1.50 \div 1.5 = £1.00\) per litre
Step 3
Large bottle is better value (£1.00/litre vs £1.08/litre).
⚠️ Always compare the same unit. If one price is per 100 g and another is per kg, convert first.
✓ Quick Check 1 — The Unit Price Method
Question 1 of 10
Multipack vs Individual
Single Can vs Multipack Single Can 75p each Unit price = 75p 75p per can Multipack of 4 ✓ £2.60 for 4 cans £2.60 ÷ 4 = 65p per can

Example 3: 3 for £2.40 vs 5 for £3.75. Which is cheaper per item?

Step 1
Option A: \(£2.40 \div 3 = 80\text{p}\) per item
Step 2
Option B: \(£3.75 \div 5 = 75\text{p}\) per item
Step 3
Option B is better value at 75p per item.
✓ Quick Check 2 — Multipacks & Comparing Value
Question 1 of 10
Unit Price Calculator

Enter details for two products to compare their unit prices side by side.

Compare Two Products

Fill in both products above to compare unit prices.
✓ Quick Check 3 — Mixed Best Buys
Question 1 of 10

Practice: Unit Pricing

Unit price = total price ÷ quantity, then ×100 to get a price per 100 g/ml. Give answers in pence. Type your answer, then click Check.

#QuestionAnswerResult
1Brand A: 500 g for £1.50. Price per 100 g (pence)?
2Brand B: 750 g for £2.10. Price per 100 g (pence)?
3250 ml for £0.90. Price per 100 ml (pence)?
43 items for £2.40. Price per item (pence)?
55 items for £3.75. Price per item (pence)?
6A 2-litre bottle costs £1.60. Price per 100 ml (pence)?
7A 330 ml can costs 55p. Price per 100 ml (pence, 2 d.p.)?
8A 4-pack of 125 g pots costs £2.00 in total. Price per 100 g (pence)?
9A single 500 g tub costs £1.80. Price per 100 g (pence)?
10Rice: 2.5 kg costs £2.75. Price per 100 g (pence)?

⚠ Things to Watch Out For

  • Comparing the total price, not the unit price: A larger pack is not automatically better value. Calculate price per gram (or per ml, per unit) for each option before comparing.
  • Dividing in the wrong order: Unit price = total price ÷ quantity. NOT quantity ÷ price. Getting this backwards gives a nonsensical answer.
  • Not using the same units: Compare price per gram with price per gram — not one per kg and one per g. Convert to the same unit first.
  • Assuming bigger is better: Sometimes the smaller pack is better value (e.g. if the large pack has a "luxury tax" or is part of a bundle). Always calculate both.
  • Rounding too early: Keep full decimal precision during calculation. Round only the final unit price for comparison. Early rounding can reverse the result.
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