Vending Machine Math: Adding & Subtracting Decimals

Over the course of 5 tasks, your students will have a blast understanding costs, calculating change, purchasing items, stocking a vending machine, and drawing the finished machine. These tasks cover both the basic mechanics of using a vending machine, as well as the business concepts of operating a vending machine (e.g. profit). It applies math, critical thinking, and creativity to a real-life application.

It's a print & go project — black-and-white and color versions are included, along with an answer key and project rubric for easy grading.

What’s included?

• Teacher instruction sheet (1 pg)

• Student activity sheets in black-and-white (7 pgs)

• Student activity sheets in color (7 pgs)

• Project rubric in both black-and-white and color (2 pgs)

• Answer key (5 pages)

What are the tasks?

✔️ Task 1: Press and Play

• Math skills: Adding Decimals

✔ Task 2: Count Your Change

• Math skills: Adding and Subtracting Decimals

✔ Task 3: Pick your Top 5

• Math skills: Adding and Subtracting Decimals

✔ Task 4: Stock your Vending Machine

• Math skills: Adding and Subtracting Decimals

• Other skills: Critical thinking (i.e. Where are vending machines usually placed? What is the profit?)

✔ Task 5: Draw your Dream Vending Machine

• Math skills: Decimals

• Other skills: Creativity (i.e. draw your vending machine)

You may be interested in other Real World Math Missions as well…

• Which Job Offer Should I Take? — Unit Rate Real World Math Project

• Which Job Should Cindy Take? — Unit Rate Real World Math Project

• 10% vs $10 off: Which Is The Better Deal? — Percentage Real World Math Project

Before you go…

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Each purchased license is for use in a single classroom. If you’d like to share with other teachers, please buy additional licenses. Thanks!