Introduction

Does your family ever eat out?  Have you ever stopped and figured the cost of your family going out to eat?  Families have many choices about where they might go out to eat.  Some restaurants are more expensive than others.  Families are often on a budget, and need to make sure that they are spending wisely.   

The Task

Your group is working for a local newspaper.  You have been assigned to find cost for a family to eat out at some local restaurants.

Your group will act the role of a family going out to eat to help you in your research.

By the end of this lesson you will be able to:

1. Add various amounts of money.
2. Find and average.
3. Create a graph.
4. Analyze and evaluate information on a graph.

The Process

1. Your group is going to research the cost for a family to eat out at several popular restaurants.  Each person in the group should order an appetizer, a dinner, a drink, and a dessert from each restaurants menu.  Add each person’s total from the menu and then find the total cost for the family to eat at each restaurant.
   
2. Use the links below to view the menu from each restaurant.

    

   Olive Garden   Don Pablo’s   Outback Steakhouse   Applebee’s

3. Add up each person’s total from the menu and then find the total cost for the family to eat at each restaurant.
4. What is the average cost of eating out?  Add all the totals for each restaurant and then divide that total by the number of restaurants.

   Ex.  The total for eating at 4 restaurants is $79.50

   Divide $79.50 by 4.

   The average is $19.88

Click here for a calculator to help you figure the average cost.

5. Now your group will create a bar graph that shows the cost for a family to eat at each restaurant.  You will also, include the average cost.  Your graph will be included in the article for the paper.   

Click here for an Excel worksheet that will help you make your graph.

Conclusion

1. Analyze your graph by answering the following questions:

• Which restaurant was the cheapest?  
• Which was the most expensive?  
• Which restaurants were less than the average?  
• Which were more than the average?

2. Evaluate your graph by answering the following questions:

• Which restaurant would be the best choice for a family on a tight budget? Why?
• If two of your group members ordered from the children's menu at each restaurant how would this change the results on your graph?  Explain.  You may quickly revisit each menu to answer this question.  
• Estimate the amount that the cost at each restaurant would be reduced if two members ordered from the children's menu.  Would this change which restaurant is a better value for a family on a tight budget?