Backwards Averaging: Mission 2, a GED story activity

This packet asks students to go on a mission to help the monsters at Peace University know where best to spend their time studying for exams. Three monsters reveal the grades they have made in each of their four classes and ask the student to find out what is the minimum grade they would need to make on each subject’s exam in order to get a 90% (an A) in all of their classes.

As part of the instructions for the quest, a secret for solving these types of problems is revealed. As it is explained, you simply have to take the difference of the total amount of grades given (including the exam that has yet to be taken) times 90 and the sum of the grades given so far. By backwards averaging, the monsters can know in which subject they should study the hardest.

These worksheets are great for many types of classroom activities. They can be presented on a Smart Board, as printables, worksheets, morning math, Bell Ringers, test prep/review, etc.

This series of Mission Activities is designed to answer the question, “When will I EVER have to use this?”