This workshop reviews key concepts from this week’s Zybooks problem set. Students will follow Val and Jo as they navigate real-life situations involving ratios, proportions, rates, and percentages to make informed decisions about personal finance topics such as budgeting, bank accounts, and loans. By the end of the workshop, students will be able to identify the essential mathematical components within a scenario and apply them effectively to solve problems in their chosen situation 

This week we will cover rates, unit conversions, and geometric concepts. In the workshop, we will discuss how rates are used in unit conversions and how to apply both in the unit analysis process. For geometric concepts, we will discuss the area of rectangles and circles, and the volume of rectangular prisms and cylinders. Finally, we will work through a story (word) problem that applies to each of the concepts learned in this week’s workshop. Students will work independently before we discuss the solution together and additional applications in real-life situations.  

This week we will discuss characteristics of data, the average (or mean) and median of datasets, and the spread of data. Specifically, for the spread of data, we will discuss the concepts of range, average deviation, variance, and standard deviation, along with the processes for calculating each measure. We will wrap up the workshop by applying the mean, average deviation, variance, and standard deviation calculations to solve a real-world scenario with students. Students will work independently before we discuss the solution and additional applications to real-life situations.  

This week, we will explore statistically misleading claims, as well as linear and exponential functions. During the workshop, we will examine common phrases often found in flawed statistical arguments and learn how to recognize them. We will also look at real-life examples of linear and exponential functions in everyday situations and discuss strategies for identifying which type of function applies to a given problem. Understanding this will help students choose the appropriate formula. To conclude, we will practice these concepts by working through a story problem together, using a step-by-step approach to break down and solve it. 

This week’s workshop will focus on mathematical strategies, including a three‑step approach for interpreting data and identifying the decisions that need to be made. These steps will help students select the mathematical tool that best fits a given situation—a critical skill when solving story problems. Guided by the main characters, Jo and Val, you will explore how these strategies support the use of quantitative reasoning in decision‑making. You will learn how to analyze story problems, extract the relevant data, and determine which mathematical tool is most appropriate. Students will then apply these strategies independently before we come together to discuss the solution and additional real‑world applications. 

In this week’s workshop, we will discuss statistical methods used to improve the accuracy and reliability of data. Jo and Val will work through a scenario that incorporates representative samples, confidence intervals, and the evaluation of claims involving the margin of error. They will also explore how to compare averages between two populations and determine whether observed differences are statistically significant. 

This week’s workshop explores how mathematics is applied to social decision-making processes, particularly voting. Jo will embark on a journey in which he will be involved in various voting systems—such as plurality, majority, ranked choice, and the Borda count—while analyzing their strengths and weaknesses. Will Jo win the final vote?

Farewell, Jo and Val! In the final week of this workshop, we will bring everything together by revisiting each scenario and connecting it to the template provided for your final project. This session is designed to help you feel confident and prepared as you complete your work. We will review expectations, clarify key concepts, and answer any last-minute questions to ensure you are fully ready to submit your project successfully.