Exchange Rates & Best Buys (Edexcel GCSE Maths: Foundation)

Revision Note

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Jamie W

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Jamie W

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Maths

Exchange Rates

Exchange rates are used to compare and convert between different currencies.

How do I convert between currencies?

  • Start by writing the exchange rate

    • £1.00 (GBP) = €1.17 (EUR)

  • To convert from GBP to EUR, multiply by 1.17

    • Because 1.00 × 1.17 = 1.17

  • To convert from EUR to GBP, divide by 1.17

    • Because 1.17 ÷ 1.17 = 1.00

  • To find £28 in Euros

    • 28 × 1.17 = €32.76

  • To find €75 in Pounds

    • 75 ÷ 1.17 = £64.10 (to the nearest penny)

Worked example

On a particular day, the exchange rate from US Dollars to Japanese Yen is:

1 US Dollar = 155.62 Japanese Yen

and the exchange rate from Australian Dollars to Japanese Yen is:

1 Australian Dollar = 102.09 Japanese Yen

An item costs 40 US Dollars.

Find the cost of the item in Australian Dollars.

The first exchange rate is 1 US Dollar = 155.62 Japanese Yen
So to convert from US Dollars to Japanese Yen, multiply by 155.62

40 × 155.62 = 6224.80 Japanese Yen

The second exchange rate is 1 Australian Dollar = 102.09 Japanese Yen
So to convert from Japanese Yen to Australian Dollars, divide by 102.09

6224.80 ÷ 102.09 = 60.49368319... Australian Dollars

Round to 2 decimal places as we are dealing with money

60.49 Australian Dollars

Best Buys

If there is more than one deal on offer, how do I work out which deal is best?

  • Find the price of 1 item (by dividing the number of items and total price by the same scale factor)
    • E.g. If 3 tins cost £1.20 then 1 tin costs 40p (by dividing both quantities by 3)
  • Compare the prices of 1 item from each shop / deal to see which is cheaper
    • The cheaper deal is the better value for money
    • E.g. 1 tin costs 40p from shop A and 45p from shop B
      • 1 tin at shop A is cheaper than at shop B
      • Shop A is therefore the better value for money
  • For more complicated deals, write down each line of working clearly

Worked example

Two deals for buying caps are given below:

3 caps for £22.50 from Baseball World
5 caps for £36 from Head Hut

At which shop are the caps better value? 
You must show your working.

Find the cost of 1 cap from Baseball World (by dividing £22.50 by 3)

22.50 ÷ 3 = £7.50 for 1 cap from Baseball World

Find the cost of 1 cap from Head Hut (by dividing 36 by 5)

36 ÷ 5 = £7.20 for 1 cap from Head Hut

Compare the price of 1 cap from each shop to see which is cheapest

£7.20 is cheaper than £7.50

Write down, with reason, the shop with better value

1 cap from Head Hut costs £7.20 and 1 cap from Baseball World costs £7.50
£7.20 is cheaper than £7.50 so Head Hut is better value

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Jamie W

Author: Jamie W

Jamie graduated in 2014 from the University of Bristol with a degree in Electronic and Communications Engineering. He has worked as a teacher for 8 years, in secondary schools and in further education; teaching GCSE and A Level. He is passionate about helping students fulfil their potential through easy-to-use resources and high-quality questions and solutions.