Christy Hovanetz, Ph.D., is a Senior Policy Fellow for ExcelinEd focusing on school accountability and math policies.
Have you ever heard of toilet paper math? It’s a trend that started when toilet paper choices became abundant.
Social worker and deal-hunter Victor Ly created an online calculator so consumers could input the price of a package of toilet paper, the number of rolls per package and the number of sheets per roll to get a rating of the best value. It was his way of relying on factual information instead of the promotional hype historically used to market such products.
I figured there’s no time like a Math Monday to introduce how toilet paper math works—and why it’s so important to understand the many practical applications of math in our everyday lives.
Here’s the challenge: Imagine you’re in a store facing shelves stocked with toilet paper, looking for the best deal. For one brand alone, you have the option of buying “super mega” rolls that are like six regular rolls in one package, or “mega” rolls that are like four regular rolls. But you also have packaging options that offer 24 super mega rolls for $39.99, 18 rolls for $29.99, 12 rolls for $19.99 or 8 rolls for $14.99. If you prefer the mega size, packaging options are 30 rolls for $32.99, 24 rolls for $26.49, 12 rolls for $14.99 or 6 rolls for $7.99.
Overwhelmed yet? But wait, there’s more.
The store is offering a promotional deal: If you buy two packages, you will get a $10 gift card, but if you spend $50, you will get a $15 gift card. And if you’re like me, you’ll also have a coupon…
This is just one example using one product type from one brand. The store also has several other product types from this brand…and several other brands with similar types—all being sold in different roll sizes and quantities at different prices and with different promotions.
With all these marketing ploys, what’s a consumer to do? It’s no surprise that determining the best deal on toilet paper requires perseverance, grit, critical thinking, problem-solving…and, you guessed it, an abundance of math skills.
In fact, what better way to get kids—especially those who appreciate middle school potty humor—to dive into the practical applications of math skills they’re learning in class. Toilet paper math requires the use of addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, decimals, place value, money, fractions and ratios.
During the pandemic, our nation’s students had a decline in K-12 math scores. Perhaps that’s because the toilet paper shortage meant little to no math was being practiced in store aisles? Although I’m sure parents in 2020 were not talking to their kids about the math needed to buy the best value toilet paper. Finding any at all was the priority, at least for a while.
These days, our shelves are fully stocked, but the cost of many household goods is through the roof. It might be time to bring back toilet paper math! Math can help curb the impact of inflation and help find the best value for your family.
Why not try a “math-at-home” activity where you and the kids shop together to determine which paper products are the best buy? (Hint: I use a price-per-square calculation.) After you’ve mastered toilet paper math, you’ll have the fundamental skills to jump to the next level: paper towel math, which adds another complexity with those “select-a-size” options.
Neither the soaring cost of paper goods nor students’ declining math scores are an April Fool’s joke. That’s why we at ExcelinEd have developed fundamental principles and a comprehensive K-8 math model policy. These resources, based on findings from the National Mathematics Advisory Panel, provide maximum value in helping educators and policymakers close the math achievement gap.
Did you know?
April 1st is more than just a day of silly pranks. It’s the start of Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month. The event began in April 1986 with a proclamation from President Ronald Reagan. It’s now jointly sponsored by several professional organizations, including the American Mathematical Society and the American Statistical Association. Learn more in this 2023 #MathMonday blog. All month long, you’ll see activities such as contests, exhibitions, guest lectures and open houses, often taking place in schools and universities. What another great way to engage students in the value of studying math!
