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(Old) Opportunities' Costs

Is higher education a good investment?

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(Old) Opportunities' Costs

Is higher education a good investment?

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A newer, better version of this lesson is available! Explore all updated lessons here, or read more about the updates in Our Community.

Opportunities_Costs_-_Teacher_Guide.pdf
Opportunities_Costs_-_Student_Handout.pdf
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2023-2024 Versions

In the fall of 2024, Citizen Math released updated versions of every lesson in our library, plus a few new ones! We know you may have already prepped an earlier version or planned a repeat of last year, so we're continuing to make these earlier versions available through Thursday December 5, 2024.

You can find the new lessons through the regular search, and we hope you love them as much as we do. You can read more about these updates in Our Community.

Click here for the updated version of this lesson!

Is higher education a good investment? One of the biggest questions students face is how much education to get. While bachelors and graduate degrees may lead to higher earnings, they can also be expensive and take years to earn.

In this lesson, students write and solve systems of linear equations to determine how long it would take to pay off various degrees and discuss the pros and cons of different educational paths.

REAL WORLD TAKEAWAYS

  • Professions have different upfront costs (both time and money) for education, and they have different median salaries after that education is attained.
  • Some professions with high median salaries require lots of time and money for education in the short run.
  • Whether someone “should” get more education depends on what’s important to them – e.g. netting more money, doing particular type of work, having a particular status – and how long they expect to work.

MATH OBJECTIVES

  • Write linear equations to model real-world scenarios.
  • Solve systems of equations graphically, algebraically, and/or by reasoning with tables.
This complex task is best as a culminating unit activity after students have developed formal knowledge and conceptual understanding.
Grade 8
Solving Linear Systems
Grade 8
Solving Linear Systems
Content Standards
Mathematical Practices

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You're So Fined (Updated!)

How do municipal fines affect people with different incomes?

Grade 8
Solving Linear Systems
Great anytime, including at the beginning of a unit before students have any formal introduction to the topic.

Domino Effect (Updated!)

How much does Domino’s charge for pizza?

Grade 8
Writing Linear Equations
Great anytime, including at the beginning of a unit before students have any formal introduction to the topic.

Square Dancing (Updated!)

What secrets are hidden in squares?

Grade 8
Squares, Roots, Irrationals
Great anytime, including at the beginning of a unit before students have any formal introduction to the topic.

Sweet Tooth (Updated!)

How much Halloween candy should you eat?

Grade 8
Functions
Great anytime, including at the beginning of a unit before students have any formal introduction to the topic.

Fuel Economy (Updated!)

Are hybrid vehicles worth the extra cost?

Grade 8
Solving Linear Equations
Appropriate most times as students are developing conceptual understanding.