Unit 7 of TEKS Financial Mathematics helps students understand the financial decisions behind life’s biggest early purchases—buying a car, renting an apartment, and purchasing a home. Students learn how to compare options, calculate total costs, and evaluate long-term trade-offs so they can make informed choices that fit their budget and financial plan.
Through hands-on activities, students research real vehicles and housing options, calculate loan payments, build amortization tables, and perform rent-vs-buy comparisons. This unit brings together budgeting, credit, and mathematical analysis to prepare students for major real-world financial decisions.
What Students Do in Unit 7:
- Calculate Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for vehicles
- Compare buying vs. leasing and understand depreciation
- Use spreadsheets to calculate loan payments and build amortization tables
- Determine an affordable rental budget and evaluate lease terms
- Run rent-vs-buy analyses to understand long-term outcomes
- Calculate homeownership costs (mortgage, taxes, insurance, maintenance)
Unit 7 gives students the tools to evaluate major purchases with clarity and confidence, ensuring these big decisions support—not undermine—their long-term financial goals.