Glencoe Keyboarding with Computer Applications

MATH CONNECTION: Convert Currencies

Introduction
Use an online currency converter to find the exchange rate between U.S. dollars and the euro, and then use the information to compare the cost of specific items in a table.

Directions
Read the information below and apply what you learn to answer the questions. Key your answers into the spaces below.

Then, create the table illustrated and described on page 365 of your textbook.

The Price of Goods
The euro is the currency used by a growing number of countries who belong to the European Union. The euro (EUR) is similar in buying power to the American dollar (USD), but the values of both currencies go up or down depending on international economic conditions.

Convert Dollars to Euros To see how much a service or an item costs in euros, go online to an international currency site such as www.xe.com. On the site, you can click the link to the Currency Converter, which lets you easily convert dollars to euros.

You can also calculate the amount in euros with information from an up-to-date exchange rate table, like the one on the XE site. Find out how much one dollar (1 USD) equals in euros (EUR) on the chart. Then plug the figures into this simple formula:

(EUR ÷ 1 USD) × No. of USD = No. of EUR

For example, if you wanted to find out how many euros equals 10 dollars, you would first find out the exchange rate for dollars to euros. If the exchange rate were .90 EUR/1 USD, you would do the following calculation:

(.9 EUR ÷ 1 USD) × 10 USD = 9.0 EUR

So, in this case, 10 dollars is worth 9 euros.

Find Information on a Web Site If the link suggested above is inactive, or if you need to find out more about this topic, get your teacher's permission to use a search engine. Here are some keywords you might use: currency exchange rates, currency converter, international currency, euro exchange rate.

Activity Questions

1			What is a euro?
2			What causes currency values to go up or down?
3			From the following list, choose four items to add to the table you will create from the Student Edition: Can of soda $0.95 Digital camera $125.00 Music CD $16.00 Running shoes $55.00 Skateboard $75.00 Spiral notebook $2.50 Tickets to a movie $8.50
4			Visit an online international currency Web site to discover today's exchange rate for the dollar to the euro. Key your findings in the space below.
5			Convert the dollar price for the four items you selected from #3 above into euros. Use this information to complete the table you will create from the Student Edition. (Note: The wool jacket example in the Student Edition is based on the exchange rate of 0.83 EUR/1 USD. You should make your calculations based on the current exchange rate, which might not be the same as the one used in the example.)