Essentials of Mathematics 11 -
Owning and Operating a Vehicle

This sub-organizer contains the following sections:
Prescribed Learning Outcomes
Suggested Instructional Strategies
Suggested Assessment Strategies
Recommended Learning Resources

PRESCRIBED LEARNING OUTCOMES

It is expected that students will analyse the cost of acquiring and operating a vehicle

It is expected that students will:

• solve problems involving the acquisition and operation of a vehicle, including
  • renting
  • leasing
  • buying
  • licensing
  • insuring
  • operating (e.g., fuel and oil)
  • maintaining (e.g., repairs, tune-ups)

SUGGESTED INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES

Learning to make sound decisions about acquiring a motor vehicle helps students to make connections between needs and personal budgets. Understanding the costs of vehicle acquisition and operation can help students make rational economic decisions.

• Provide students with newspapers or other advertisements that show the price of purchasing a vehicle and the cost of leasing the same vehicle. Have students calculate the costs of owning and of leasing a vehicle of a given price, and ask them to research the advantages and disadvantages of each method by interviewing a loan manager, car dealership employee, car owner, or accountant.
• Have students research the cost of operating a vehicle for a year. Ask students to prepare a report suitable for class presentation that includes all anticipated costs (e.g., fuel, oil, tires, tune-ups, insurance). Have students convert the overall cost to cost per kilometer.
• Have each student find a new or used vehicle listed in a newspaper classified section, on the Internet, or in a specialized "buy-and-sell" magazine. Ask students to research and prepare a report on the reliability of the vehicle, the vehicle condition, specifications (e.g., engine size, gas mileage), and options (e.g., power features, air conditioning, car alarm, stereo system), the depreciation amount, and the cost of financing.
• Ask students to contact insurance agents to determine costs of insurance for various classes of vehicle and types of driver (e.g., age of vehicle, age of driver, type of vehicle).

SUGGESTED ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES

Acquiring and operating a vehicle involves costs that will have an impact on the present and future budgets of students. Assessment should focus on students’ abilities to estimate, predict, research, calculate (using appropriate technology), and compare costs in the acquisition and operation of a vehicle, and to verify the reasonableness of their conclusions.

Observe

• As students work on problems involving the costs of acquiring and operating a vehicle, observe their abilities to:
  • explain the advantages and disadvantages of leasing, renting, or buying a vehicle
  • estimate the cost of a vehicle given the monthly payments and other charges
  • estimate the operating expenses of a vehicle, given published mileage figures and a set yearly mileage
• Note the extent to which students can read, create, and display vehicle acquisition and operating costs using a variety of forms such as tables, graphs, and histograms.

Collect

• Have each student interview an automotive technician, an insurance agent, or a loan manager and develop a report outlining the acquisition and operating costs associated with a vehicle. Review each report, looking for evidence that the student is able to:
  • compare and contrast the maintenance costs of new and pre-owned vehicles
  • identify basic motor vehicle insurance requirements
  • identify other costs associated with leasing a vehicle
  • create a personal budget to operate a vehicle

Peer Assessment

• Have students enter their information on operating and maintenance on a table. Have them analyse each other’s projects based on size and utility of vehicle.

RECOMMENDED LEARNING RESOURCES

Comprehensive learning resources for this course are currently under development. As an interim measure, schools are encouraged to use the teacher-developed learning resources distributed to schools (student and teacher resources). Please note that the student materials require photocopying for student use.

Video

• The ABC’s of Personal Finance

© 2000 Copyright. All Rights Reserved. Curriculum Branch.
Maintained by: Mathematics Coordinator
Revised: November 22, 2000

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