grab a calculator.

I have two math problems we’re going to work out together. You’ll like this, I can tell.

 

The first involves cookies. Everyone loves cookies:

I’m giving cookies as gifts this year, because Alan’s family is so large and far-reaching. I’m making 5 types of cookies. Let’s say, to keep it relatively simple, each recipe yields about 2 dozen cookies. I have 30 tins to fill, and each tin holds about 15 cookies, 20 if I’m being really generous.

Okay. So. 30 tins X 15 cookies per tin = 450 cookies total.

450 cookies total / 5 different kinds = 90 of each type of cookie.

90 of each type of cookie / 24 cookies per batch = 3.75 batches of each type of cookie. So I have to quadruple each recipe to wind up with just a few too many which is better because I always think of people after the fact, or get invited to parties, or whatever.

So then, I take a recipe, and multiply each ingredient by four. Then I add up all the totals from all the recipes to find out how much flour, sugar, eggs, nuts, vanilla, ETC to buy. Ingredients alone cost about $130 at the commissary (or about $4.50 per tin of finished product), just incase anyone thought this was a cheap alternative to buying presents. After you buy the ingredients and the tins, and the cards you have to send with them, and ship everything, you wind up spending about $15 per person, for those of you keeping score at home.

Not to mention that tomorrow is 01 December, and I’ll have to start already, because I have to be DONEZO on 19 December when we leave for NY, plus it takes FOREVER to bake 450 cookies in a tiny kitchen with only two cookie sheets and one oven. BUT I AM UP FOR THE CHALLENGE. THANKS FOR FINALLY COMING THROUGH FOR ME, UNEMPLOYMENT.

 

Math problem number 2 involves your Christmas budget. I caught this one on that show Brink on the Science Channel (yes, I watch the science channel, stop judging me), and I thought it was awesome. I’ll make up the numbers:

First, take your Christmas List. Arbitrarily, I’ll say I want to buy gifts for:

Alan

Mom

Dad

Alan’s Mom

Alan’s Dad

Alan’s Sister

Alan’s Brother

My Grandmother

Alan’s Grandmother/Grandfather

and 5 Friends

 

Great. The next step is to rank each person’s importance (gift-wise) on a scale from 1 – 10. 

Alan – 10

Mom – 8

Dad – 8

Alan’s Mom – 7

Alan’s Dad – 7

Alan’s Sister – 5

Alan’s Brother – 5

My Grandmother – 3

Alan’s G-Rents – 3

and 5 Friends – 1 each.

 

Next, take all those ranks, and add them up: 10 + 8 + 8 + 7 + 7 + 5 + 5 + 3 + 3 + 5 = 61

Then, decide your budget. I’m gonna say I have a total of $500 to spend on all my Christmas gifts this year. Take your budget, divide by the sum of your ranks:

So 500 / 61 = 8.20

That quotient tells me what to spend on everyone who ranks as a 1 on my list. So for my 5 friends, I’ll spend $8.20 each. For my Grandparents, I’d multiply $8.20 X 3 = about $25. For Alan’s siblings, $8.20 X 5 = $41 each. And so on. Alan, I’d spend about $82. Dig? 

I thought that was a really easy (and neurotic but fun) way to figure out your Christmas budget.