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This assignment is about using information from a survey to make judgements, and
presenting the information for others to consider. It is also about calculating costs and
budgets.
Part 1
In this part you will practise skills in finding out what people want.
Part 2
The second part is about costing and choosing a venue.
HD1/L1.3 Find the arithmetical average (mean) from a set of data MSS1/L1.1
Your task is to plan a company Christmas party. You have sent out a questionnaire to find
out people’s views and preferences. Your task is to look at the results and decide what
would be the most popular option. You have also researched different activities and
venues. You will need to work out costings for your preferred options.
1 Numeracy at Level 1
Assignment: Maths for planning an event
We are now planning our Christmas party and we would like your views. Please complete
this questionnaire to tell us the kind of Christmas party that you want.
No. of responses
a weeknight (10)
2 Numeracy at Level 1
Assignment: Maths for planning an event
5 What kind of event would you like? (Tick as many as you would enjoy.)
A meal (85)
Dancing/disco (64)
Karaoke (23)
Bowling (15)
6 How much would you be happy to pay? Please indicate the most you would
be prepared to pay per person.
Up to £10 (1)
Up to £15 (2)
Up to £20 (10)
Up to £30 (29)
Up to £40 (23)
Up to £50 (33)
Up to £75 (3)
Up to £100 (0)
3 Numeracy at Level 1
Assignment: Maths for planning an event
If you were answering questions in the numeracy National Test you would not be able to
use a calculator. However, when you are applying your skills to a task in real life and using
real numbers, it may be best to use a calculator.
You can decide if you want to use one for these questions. Round your answers to whole
numbers.
Questions with this symbol are for you to think about and perhaps to talk
about with someone else.
You do not need to write down an answer unless you think it would be helpful.
1 You sent out a questionnaire to all of the 180 staff. Everyone who returned the
questionnaire answered question 1.
What does it tell you about making decisions based on this questionnaire?
2 What percentage of the people who returned the questionnaire said they would or
might come to the party?
4 Numeracy at Level 1
Assignment: Maths for planning an event
3a If the people who answered question 2 do what they say they will do, how many party
tickets would you need?
3b If the whole company (180 people) responded in the same way as the people who
returned the questionnaire, how many party tickets would you need?
3c Last year the party was held in the staff canteen. The company had 120 staff and 148
people came along, including partners.
This year there are 180 staff. If the same proportion of the workforce attended as last
year, how many people would come?
What do you think are the minimum and maximum numbers you should be
planning for – and how did you decide this?
4 Your boss has asked you to work out the average price that people are willing to pay.
She has also said that she wants to make sure that most people are willing to pay what
the party will cost.
4a Calculate the average (mean) cost that people are willing to pay.
5 Numeracy at Level 1
Assignment: Maths for planning an event
4b Complete this table, showing how many people would be prepared to pay each price.
Up to £10 101
Up to £15 100
Up to £20 98
Up to £30
Up to £40
Up to £50
Up to £75
What would you say is a reasonable price that most people will pay?
• What are the likely minimum and maximum numbers you should plan
for?
6 Numeracy at Level 1
Assignment: Maths for planning an event
Self-check answers
This section gives you the answers to the numerical questions, and some suggestions for
thinking through the other questions.
1 You sent out a questionnaire to all of the 180 staff. Everyone who returned the
questionnaire answered question 1. What percentage of people in the company
responded?
58%
It is very rare to get 100% response to any questionnaire. Whatever decisions you
make are based on only slightly more than half of the people in the company. You may
think that the people who didn’t respond are less likely to come to the party, or it may
be that they are just too busy to fill in the questionnaire.
2 What percentage of the people who returned the questionnaire said they would or
might come to the party?
96%
3a If the people who answered question 2 do what they say they will do, how many party
tickets would you need?
172 tickets
3b If the whole company (180 people) behaved in the same way as the people who
returned the questionnaire, how many party tickets would you need?
292
• 96% of 180 staff would or might come to the party = 172 people
• 120 staff + 120 partners + 52 people coming on their own = 292 people at the party.
7 Numeracy at Level 1
Assignment: Maths for planning an event
3c Last year the party was held in the staff canteen. The company had 120 staff and 148
people came along, including partners.
This year there are 180 staff. If the same proportion of the workforce attended as last
year, how many people would come?
One way of working this out is to say that the company is about 1½ times as big as last
year, so 1½ times as many people would come:
You might also have worked this out as 148/120 guests per employee, so:
• minimum 150 people – some people only said they might come and the people who
didn’t return the questionnaire weren’t interested.
• maximum 250 – some people who didn’t fill in the questionnaire might want to
come along after all, although probably fewer of them than those who did respond.
If it was as popular as last year’s party it would be around 220, but you hope it will
be more popular.
4 Your boss has asked you to work out the average price that people are willing to pay.
She has also said that she wants to make sure that most people are willing to pay what
the party will cost.
4a Calculate the average (mean) cost that people are willing to pay.
• Total amounts willing to pay: (1 × £10) + (2 × £15) + (10 × £20) + (29 × £30) + (23 ×
£40) + (33 × £50) + (3 × £75) = £3,905
• Mean = £39
8 Numeracy at Level 1
Assignment: Maths for planning an event
4b Complete this table, showing how many people would be prepared to pay each price.
Up to £10 101
Up to £15 100
Up to £20 98
Up to £30 88
Up to £40 59
Up to £50 36
Up to £75 3
This table is completed by adding up all the people who would pay that price or higher.
The mean price that people are willing to pay is £39, but only 59 people are actually
willing to pay £40. Although this is more than half the people in the company, you
might prefer to aim for £30, as nearly 90% of people said they were willing to pay that.
If you aim for £20 this won’t exclude anyone, but you may not be able to afford the
party that people want!
5 Possible recommendations:
• The results of the questionnaire and last year’s party numbers suggest that
between 150 and 250 people might attend.
• 84% of people would enjoy a meal, 63% would enjoy a disco and 50% would enjoy
live music. A party that included all of these would be very popular.
9 Numeracy at Level 1
Assignment: Maths for planning an event
• 42% of people wanted a Saturday night party and only 10% wanted a weeknight
party, so a Saturday night would be first choice, with Friday night as a second
choice.
• Only 23% of people thought the party should be held in our staff canteen, so an
outside venue would be much more popular.
• A cost of £30 per head would be acceptable to 90% of people who responded to
the questionnaire.
You may have chosen other recommendations. You could talk to a tutor or a friend to
check that they are sensible, given the results of the questionnaire.
10 Numeracy at Level 1
Assignment: Maths for planning an event
• D&D Catering
Party Planners
• Will organise the party at our venue (lighting, decorations, entertainer and disco). Fixed
fee of £1,000 weeknights and £1,250 on Friday and Saturday nights, plus VAT.
• Will provide a licensed bar (staff pay for their own drinks).
11 Numeracy at Level 1
Assignment: Maths for planning an event
Outside venues
12 Numeracy at Level 1
Assignment: Maths for planning an event
13 Numeracy at Level 1
Assignment: Maths for planning an event
1 Your boss has asked you to work out the cost of putting on a party using the company
canteen.
Work out the cost per head of using Party Planners or booking food, a live band and a
disco yourself. Work out the costs for 150 people and for 250 people and present this
as a table.
Outside venues
Draw up a table to show the cost per head of the different venues, including VAT, what is
on offer at each and your comments about their suitability. Which venue would you
recommend?
14 Numeracy at Level 1
Assignment: Maths for planning an event
Self-check answers
1 Party Planners
Total cost (150 people) £4,113 Total cost (250 people) £5,875
Cost per head (150 people) £27.42 Cost per head (250 £23.50
people)
15 Numeracy at Level 1
Assignment: Maths for planning an event
2 DIY version
DIY version – food from D&D Catering, disco and live band
All Stars disco (£250 + £294 All Stars disco (£250 + £294
17.5% VAT) 17.5% VAT)
Total cost (150 people) £3,019 Total cost (250 people) £4,469
Cost per head (150 people) £20.13 Cost per head (250 £17.88
people)
Both these options are reasonable, but there are hidden costs in staff time required to
book and organise, cleaning and setting up the staff canteen, decorations, etc. Also, only
23% of the staff wanted the party to be in the canteen.
16 Numeracy at Level 1
Assignment: Maths for planning an event
Outside venues
The Aerodrome £41.00 Meal, entertainment and Size and availability OK.
disco – African theme
‘All that Jazz’ £30.00 Meal and entertainment – Size OK and available
Chicago/prohibition theme Fridays.
The Roxy £23.00 Meal plus crackers, etc. Up to 200 people only – may
No music or be too small.
entertainment.
Recommendations
There was a strong preference for an outside venue. The Aerodrome meets all the criteria,
but at a price that only 60% of staff said they were willing to pay.
‘All that Jazz’ is at a price acceptable to almost 90% of staff. Although it doesn’t have a
disco, it does have jazz music and entertainment, and is probably the best option
available.
You may have set out your tables differently. Check to see if you have given the same
information.
17 Numeracy at Level 1
Assignment: Maths for planning an event
If you want more practice with percentages, graphs and charts, averages or planning a
budget, you can look at the resources and links on the Move On Learner Route.
The skills you have practised in this assignment will help you to:
• find out what people think and make recommendations about any proposed changes
at work
• do a survey in your area and use the information to petition your local council
18 Numeracy at Level 1