Examples of Activities for
Everyday Living Numeracy
NEWSPAPER ACTIVITIES
Lottery Dreamer Gambles $50,000 and Loses
Lynn Borisoff wanted to be rich. First she sold her house in Hamilton for $50,000. Then
she spent this money on lottery tickets. The tickets cost $10 each. Lynn spent her summer
vacation driving to different towns to buy the tickets. “With so many tickets, I figured I
had to win big,” she said. All she won was $1,300. “I think the lottery hooks people with
lots of small cash prizes. How many people get close to the really big money?” She grabbed
a handful of tickets and said, “You know, these tickets look like money, but they’re just
garbage!” Lynn sees some hope. “I spent all my money and only won peanuts. I’m pretty
broke right now, but I can make more money by working hard.”
- It cost Lynn $50,000 to make $1,300. What was her net loss?
- Ticket sellers make $0.15 on each ticket they sell. How much money did they make
from the tickets Lynn bought?
- Suppose it took Lynn 12 seconds to check each lottery ticket to see if she had won
any money. How many hours and minutes will it take Lynn to check all of her
tickets?
- The big winner was a group of 13 people. The group had to split a million dollars.
How much will each winner receive?
Complete the headlines
- Melbourne, Australia - An Australian physical fitness expert is really not walking!
He walked for 71 hours at an average of 5 km/h. After completing his “stroll,” he said
he felt fine. He went to the hospital for a checkup and was released after treatment
for blistered feet.
Complete this headline: Australian Completes Walk of 
km
- Montrose, USA - Jim and his fiancée planned to be married. Unfortunately, the
plans fell apart. Jim received his ring back and 12 cookies for every day they had
been together. His former fiancée gave him a total of 4,380 cookies.
Complete this headline: Couple Breaks Up After Days Together