"The Euro (€) - A Unifying Currency for Europe"
The Euro (€) isn’t just a currency — it’s a symbol of economic unity for over 377 million people across 20 EU Member States. Before the Euro, businesses and individuals had to deal with multiple currencies, making trade across Europe much more complex. In this exercise, we’ll look back at the challenges before the Euro’s introduction and explore how it simplifies trade and promotes economic cohesion.
🌍 Scenario: A Taste of Europe
Imagine it’s 1992. The European Economic Community (EEC) — the precursor to the European Union — has already worked on removing customs duties, setting common food safety standards, and making trade between countries easier.
You live in France and have decided to sell a "Culinary Week Pack", featuring authentic specialties from seven European countries. Each pack includes these items and their cost in the local currency of 1992:
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France: Coq au vin, baguette, and cognac – 37 French francs (FRF)
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Spain: Paella and sangria – 500 pesetas (ESP)
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Italy: Lasagne and limoncello – 3,000 lire (ITL)
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Germany: Bratwurst, sauerkraut, and beer – 11 German marks (DEM)
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Belgium: Waffles and Jenever – 89 Belgian francs (BEF)
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Greece: Moussaka, tzatziki, and ouzo – 400 drachmas (GRD)
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Ireland: Cod and Guinness – 2.89 Irish pounds (IEP)
💼 Your Challenge
To sell the "Culinary Week Pack" and cover all your costs (including labor, shipping, and currency exchange fees) while making a profit, you decide to set the selling price at two and a half times the total cost of all items.
Since you’ll be selling the packs in seven countries, you need to:
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Calculate the total purchase cost for each pack in your local currency (FRF).
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Convert the total cost into the selling price in the currency of each country.
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Display the results clearly and organize the information.
🖥️ The Task: Automate the Calculation
Instead of doing all these calculations manually, you’ll use Snap! to create a program that:
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Adds up the purchase costs in each country’s currency.
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Converts the total costs into your desired selling price using exchange rates.
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Displays the results in a neat, clear, and easy-to-read format.
🔗 Getting Started
We’ve provided a nearly complete project for you to work on! Open the following link to start:
🔗 Snap! Cost Calculation (Starter Project)
Your task is to complete the project by making the necessary adjustments in three specific areas:
📝 Step-by-Step Instructions
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"Costs" Object
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Examine the left script and focus on the costume blocks and variable assignments.
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Make sure each variable correctly represents the cost of an item in its respective currency.
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"Calculate" Object
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Locate the "join reporter" blocks and fill in the empty inputs with the right variables or operators.
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"Retail" Object
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Some input values for displaying results are missing or incorrect.
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Correct these values so the final display of costs and selling prices is both accurate and visually appealing.
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💭 Reflection Question
After completing the task, think about the advantages the Euro has brought to businesses like yours. How does having a single currency make pricing and trade easier and more efficient?
🆘 Need Help?
If you get stuck or want to check your work, you can always find the solution here:
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