Difficulty: Rating: GCSE Marks:

GCSE Text:
An aeroplane has 30 rows of seats, with each row having 6 seats.  A stewardess says that the plane is 85% full on today’s flight to Spain.

a) How many seats are empty on today’s flight?

A one way ticket to Spain with ‘CheapyJet’ costs £210.

b) How much money could the airline have made if they had sold all of the empty seats on today’s flight?

Suggestions:
This video is a typical ‘mix’ question that could appear on a foundation GCSE paper. It requires basic arithmetic coupled with an understanding of percentage calculations. It is worth reminding students that even if parts of this question can’t be answered, that at least completing part of a question will gain some marks. At least one mark would be given just for calculating the number of seats on the aircraft.

Extension Ideas:
Teachers could extend the learning by considering:

• On the return journey,  two thirds of these empty seats were filled with passengers. How many empty seats were available on the return journey?
• How much money would the airline have made if all seats were sold?