Popcorn Friday's: 8th Grade Fundraising

Eighth grade graduation fundraising has involved the business minded skills of the students selling taffy apples, buttons, and popcorn.   The sales will off set some of the costs for eighth grade graduation activities.  Students show teamwork by working together towards their goal of reducing graduation costs.  Friday popcorn sales involve the students measuring ingredients, collecting money, keeping records of sales, and problem solving for optimal sales each week.

What are some ways that math is used as students help manage a fundraiser?  Problems and questions often surface when we are popping away, or looking back at the figures.  For example, this week sales of popcorn were a total of $146 dollars combined between the early morning and afternoon shifts.  The first shift sold ten dollars more than the second shift.  How much money did each of the shifts make during their sales? 

The overall sales of shift 1 (x) and shift (2) y, equalled 146 dollars.   The equation is expressed as x+y=146
Another part of this problem involves the money earned by the second shift. y= x+10.
Solving a pair of equations can be done by solving for x algebraically, using guess and check, or a host of other strategies.  The equation way will substitute the second equation into the first equation.  Namely, x+(x+10)=146.   2x=136, x=68.   Then if x=68, y+68=146.  So y=$78.  Check involves 78+68= 146. 

The math involved in figuring out this equation likely relates to other situations or questions that have come up in managing events like a fundraising.  It'd be great to hear from you.  Share some ways that you have seen math being used.