Real-World Algebra Problems for Thanksgiving

 

The abstract world of algebra can feel disconnected from students' lives. However, connecting mathematical concepts to major cultural events, like Thanksgiving, provides a fantastic opportunity for real-world problem-solving in Pre-Algebra and Algebra I classrooms.

Thanksgiving is a feast built on planning, budgeting, cooking times, and portions—all activities deeply rooted in mathematical principles. By framing typical algebraic concepts within the context of the holiday, we make the math

Pre-Algebra students are solidifying their understanding of fractions, percentages, and basic rates. Thanksgiving offers numerous scenarios for applying these skills.  Let's begin with one that addresses how long it takes to thaw a solidly frozen turkey. The rule of thumb for thawing a turkey in the refrigerator is 24 hours for every 5 pounds of weight.  

So let's set up the problem "A family is hosting Thanksgiving and bought an 18-pound turkey. How many full days before the holiday must they place the turkey in the refrigerator to ensure it is completely thawed?"  The focus is to set up and solve a proportion  $\frac{24\text{ hours}}{5\text{ pounds/}}=\frac{x\text{ hours}}{18\text{ pounds/}}$. This requires unit conversion (hours to days) and rounding logic.

Another possible problem is one dealing with pies.  Recipes often need scaling up or down, providing excellent practice with ratios and percentages.  So you might use this problem "Grandma's famous pumpkin pie recipe calls for 2.5 cups of pumpkin puree. If she decides to make 120% of the original recipe to ensure leftovers, how many cups of puree will she need?".  This problem has them calculate a percentage increase ($1.20\times 2.5$) and correctly converting the percentage into its decimal form.

In Algebra I, the focus shifts to variables, linear relationships, and systems of equations—perfect for tackling the budgeting and scheduling challenges of a large Thanksgiving dinner.  Begin with a budgeting equation also known as a linear equation because shopping  for dinner involves fixed costs and variable costs.  You might use this problem "The host has a budget of $150 for side dishes. The fixed costs for ingredients (spices, flour, butter) total $45. The variable cost for each guest's portion of side dishes (potatoes, stuffing, cranberries) is estimated to be $3.50. Write and solve a linear equation to find the maximum number of guests (g) the host can feed while staying within budget."  So the focus is on writing and solving the equation -  $45+3.50g\le 150$. This involves understanding the roles of the initial value (fixed cost) and the rate of change (cost per guest).

You might also use systems of equations to solve a problem of creating  specific dietary plates. The problem might be "The host needs 12 plates of dessert (cookies and pie slices). They know that each cookie has 5 grams of sugar and each pie slice has 15 grams of sugar. If the total sugar limit for the 12 plates must be 120 grams, how many cookies (c) and how many pie slices (p) should be prepared?"  The focus is on setting up and solving a system of linear equations:

• • $$c+p=12$$
    $$5c+15p=120$$

  • Students can solve this using substitution, elimination, or graphing, allowing them to debate the most efficient method for this specific context.

By embedding math instruction in the familiar and festive context of Thanksgiving, we demonstrate that algebra isn't just theory—it’s the essential framework used to plan, budget, and execute a large-scale, real-world event. This approach transforms the holiday from a simple day off into a powerful algebraic learning lab.