4 pens for £2.40
60p per pen
6 pens for £3.30
55p per pen
Learn the 3-Step Method
1Find the unit price of each.
A: 240p ÷ 4 = 60p. B: 330p ÷ 6 = 55p.
2Compare the unit prices.
55p beats 60p — lower price per pen is better value.
3Alternative: same quantity.
Compare 12 pens' worth: A → £7.20, B → £6.60. Same verdict.
Worked Example
Juice: 2 litres for £3.60, or 3 litres for £5.10. Which is better value?
Watch Out! Common Mistakes
Different amounts! Compare per litre: B wins at £1.70.
Check every time! Shops sometimes price the big pack WORSE per unit — the unit price is the only honest comparison.
Finish! ‘A = 60p, B = 55p’ isn’t an answer. Add the sentence: Pack B is better value.
⬇ Cheat Sheet
- Divide each price by its quantity → unit price.
- Lower unit price = better value.
- Or scale both to the same quantity.
- State the verdict in words.
📖 Continue Your Journey
Quick summary
- Unit price = total price ÷ quantity.
- The lower unit price is the better value, whatever the pack size.
- Alternative: scale both offers to the same quantity and compare totals.
- Always finish with a verdict sentence.
Frequently asked questions
What is the unitary method?
Reducing to the value of ONE unit — one pen, one litre — by dividing, then comparing or scaling up from there.
Is the bigger pack always better value?
No. Sometimes the small pack wins per unit — that's why comparing unit prices, not pack prices, is the only fair test.
How does this appear in exams?
'Which is better value?' questions with two offers — full marks need the unit prices AND a stated verdict.
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