Weighing tradeoffs and feasibility
Compare design options on cost, risk, and benefit to judge which one is actually feasible against the stated criteria.
- Reading a list of design criteria: You can't judge tradeoffs until you know the goals (criteria) and limits (constraints) the option has to meet.
- Reading a comparison table: Tradeoff decisions are made by comparing options row-by-row on cost, risk, and benefit.
Prerequisites are inferred: pending teacher review.
Re-learn the skill with worked practice and clear examples.
To weigh tradeoffs, score each option on cost, risk, and benefit, then check it against the stated criteria. The most feasible option is the one that best meets the criteria within the limits: not just the cheapest or the fanciest.
Which option best meets ALL three stated criteria (under $40, easy for weak eyesight, no internet needed)?
Reviewed| Option | Cost | Risk | Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| A: Beeping pillbox | $25 | Low (simple, few parts) | Large buttons, loud beep, no internet |
| B: Phone app | $0 device, needs $30/mo plan | Medium (depends on Wi-Fi) | Many features, small text |
| C: Smart speaker | $60 | Medium (needs internet) | Voice reminders, hands-free |
- A.Option A
- B.Option B
- C.Option C
- D.None of them meet any criteria
Show the worked solution ▾
Answer: A. Option A
- Step 1: Check cost: Under $40: A is $25 (pass). B needs a $30/month plan, and C is $60, so both fail the cost limit over time.
- Step 2: Check eyesight and internet: Easy for weak eyesight: A has large buttons and a loud beep; B has small text. No internet: A needs none; B and C both depend on internet.
Why it's right: Only Option A meets all three criteria: under $40, easy for weak eyesight, and no internet: so it is the feasible choice.
- B: Option B's ongoing plan cost and small text fail the cost and eyesight criteria.
- C: Option C is over $40 and needs internet, failing two criteria.
- D: Option A clearly meets all three criteria, so this is false.
Aligned to Biomedical Innovation: feasibility & tradeoffs · reading level ~grade 9
- A design team posts a decision matrix on the wall and circles the option that clears every constraint before building it.
Fill these in as you work through the lesson.
- Tradeoff (gaining one thing by giving up another):
- Feasibility (can it really be built and used here?):
- Risk (chance and size of something going wrong):
- Benefit (the good a solution actually delivers):
A tradeoff means you gain by giving up . The most feasible option is the one that best meets the within the limits.
- Define feasibility in your own words, then give one reason a high-benefit design might still be infeasible.
- Give a tradeoff for a low-cost vs. a high-comfort hospital bed.
- Why isn't 'the cheapest option' automatically the best choice?
A team must pick a material for a low-cost prosthetic hand. Option A is cheap but brittle; Option B costs more but lasts years; Option C is light and strong but needs a 3D printer the school doesn't have. Using cost, risk, and feasibility, decide which option best meets the criterion 'durable AND buildable with our tools' and explain your reasoning.