Fares not Fair


Fares not Fair

Pupils determine whether the rates for taxi fares, set by a local council, are fair in relation to the changing cost of fuel.

Practical details

National Curriculum levels 6 to 8
45 minutes to 1 hour
Paper and calculator

Key Processes involved

Process the data to find the relationship between fuel cost and taxi fares.
Interpreting and evaluation
Use findings to justify their recommended fare.
Communicating and reflecting
Communicate findings effectively and explain recommendation clearly.

Teacher guidance

You might begin by showing the slides on a whiteboard and commenting:

  • Even though taxi drivers are usually self employed, the taxi fares they can charge are not set by the drivers, but by their local Council. In 2008, taxi drivers in Surrey complained that the prices they were allowed to charge were not fair as the price of diesel fuel had gone up so much.
  • The data shows the cost of fuel and the price of taxi fares over 8 years. Your task is to examine the drivers’ claim and decide on a fair price for them to charge.

The task requires knowledge of proportionality.

During the task, the following probing questions may be helpful

  • What method will you use to decide what would make a fair price?
  • What does ‘fair’ mean?
  • Are there different ways you could use the information to make your decision?
  • The taxi drivers focus on the cost of their fuel; should there be other factors in deciding what would be a fair price?