Citizen Math used to be called Mathalicious. If you have a current account on Mathalicious, you can use those credentials to log in to your Citizen Math account. Learn more here.

WiiBates (2023)

How much should Nintendo charge for a video game console?

Login to add lessons to your favorites

WiiBates (2023)

How much should Nintendo charge for a video game console?

Login to add lessons to your favorites
Log In or Sign Up to Access Lesson Materials
WiiBates - Teacher Guide.pdf
Log In or Sign Up to Access Lesson Materials
WiiBates - Student Handout.pdf
Log In or Sign Up to Access Lesson Materials

How much should Nintendo charge for a video game console? In response to a sales slump, in 2013 Nintendo dropped the price of the Wii U video game console. The following month, they sold three times as many units, which suggests their plan worked. However, Nintendo may have gotten the price wrong.

In this lesson, students use linear and quadratic models to analyze and discuss the relationship between the price of a Wii U console and profits for Nintendo.

REAL WORLD TAKEAWAYS

  • More revenue for a product doesn’t always mean more profit – there are costs to consider.
  • A company might increase its revenue – and even its profit – on a product by lowering the price.
  • Companies might decide to set a price for a particular item at something that doesn’t lead to its biggest profit in order to increase revenue elsewhere.

MATH OBJECTIVES

  • Use real data to create and interpret a linear model for demand as a function of price
  • Use real data to create and interpret a quadratic model for total profit as a function of price
  • Find and interpret the maximum of a parabola
Great anytime, including at the beginning of a unit before students have any formal introduction to the topic.
Algebra 1
Parabolas & Quadratics
Algebra 1
Parabolas & Quadratics
Content Standards
Mathematical Practices

Other Algebra 1 Lessons

Billions & Billions

How is the human population changing?

Algebra 1
Exponential Functions (Beg.)
Great anytime, including at the beginning of a unit before students have any formal introduction to the topic.

Wage War

Should the government increase the minimum wage?

Algebra 1
Solving Linear Systems
Great anytime, including at the beginning of a unit before students have any formal introduction to the topic.

Wiibates

How much should Nintendo charge for a video game console?

Algebra 1
Parabolas & Quadratics
Great anytime, including at the beginning of a unit before students have any formal introduction to the topic.

Good Cop, Bad Cop

How should police departments address excessive use of force?

Algebra 1
One-Variable Statistics
Great anytime, including at the beginning of a unit before students have any formal introduction to the topic.

Datelines

How much does age matter in a relationship?

Algebra 1
Solving Linear Systems
Appropriate most times as students are developing conceptual understanding.

Billions & Billions

How is the human population changing?

Algebra 1
Exponential Functions (Beg.)
Great anytime, including at the beginning of a unit before students have any formal introduction to the topic.

Wage War

Should the government increase the minimum wage?

Algebra 1
Solving Linear Systems
Great anytime, including at the beginning of a unit before students have any formal introduction to the topic.

Wiibates

How much should Nintendo charge for a video game console?

Algebra 1
Parabolas & Quadratics
Great anytime, including at the beginning of a unit before students have any formal introduction to the topic.

Good Cop, Bad Cop

How should police departments address excessive use of force?

Algebra 1
One-Variable Statistics
Great anytime, including at the beginning of a unit before students have any formal introduction to the topic.

Datelines

How much does age matter in a relationship?

Algebra 1
Solving Linear Systems
Appropriate most times as students are developing conceptual understanding.