Math in the Real World: Should I Take This Loan Offer?

Sometimes fortune smiles upon you. This came in the mail on Saturday. Most likely, similar offers end up in your mailbox no matter who you are or where you live.  If you're a teacher, don't throw these away!  Cut out or black out whatever information you need to, then bring in a copy to show your students.

This would be an interesting discussion during the first few days of school: Is this a good deal? Should I take this loan?

You could make this just a simple Do Now and leave it at that.  It could also be the beginning of a lesson on simple or compound interest, percents, rates, or just financial literacy.  Either way, talk about how this kind of math surrounds us every day, and if we don't know what it means, we're going to be taken advantage of.

See also: Math in the Real World: Erasing Debt Activity