How to solve a math problem!

Step One Read the problem

Read

the

problem

Step Two Find out, What am I supposed to find out?

Find out,

What am I supposed to find out?

IF it’s too complicated to understand the 1 st time…

IF it’s too

complicated to understand the 1 st time…

Read the problem again and AGAIN!

Read the problem again and AGAIN!

Look for clue words Step Three

To show you… which operation to use

which operation to use

Addition and…add… addend …plus… sum …more… more than… in all…total… all together… perimeter… combined

and…add…

addend …plus…

sum …more…

more than…

in all…total…

all together…

perimeter…

combined

Subtraction Minuend…subtrahend difference…subtract minus…take away… less than…remain… are left…have left how much more fewer…are not… decreased by… how much change (money) is left

Minuend…subtrahend

difference…subtract

minus…take away…

less than…remain…

are left…have left

how much more

fewer…are not…

decreased by…

how much change (money) is left

Multiplication factor…product… times…of… multiplied by… area…volume… each…twice=2x…thrice=3x… …how many times more…

factor…product… times…of…

multiplied by…

area…volume…

each…twice=2x…thrice=3x… …how many times more…

Division dividend…divisor … quotient… divided by…per… half = ÷ 2… separated…rate… ratio…fraction… decimal…part… percent…

dividend…divisor

… quotient…

divided by…per…

half = ÷ 2…

separated…rate…

ratio…fraction…

decimal…part…

percent…

Beware… Of red herrings! (false clues) In this case, numbers that are just there to trick you, but are not needed to solve the problem.

Of red herrings!

(false clues) In this case, numbers that are just there to trick you, but are not needed to solve the problem.

What to do… if you’ve read the question more than once, and you still don’t know which way to turn..

if you’ve read the question more than once, and you still don’t know which way to turn..

Then just do something! You know there are four operations and you’ll have to do at least one of them. So pick one. You know you need to do that operation using at least two numbers, so pick two of the numbers in the problem . Then either add ‘em, subtract ‘em, multiply ‘em, or divide ‘em. You may be wrong, but YOU MAY BE RIGHT!

You know there are four operations and you’ll have to do at least one of them. So pick one.

You know you need to do that operation using at least two numbers, so pick two of the numbers in the problem .

Then either add ‘em, subtract ‘em, multiply ‘em, or divide ‘em.

You may be wrong, but YOU MAY BE RIGHT!

Step Four Solve the problem

Solve the problem

Step Five Now think… Does this answer make sense? Would I expect this to be the answer?

Now think…

Does this answer make sense?

Would I expect this to be the answer?

Step Six Ask yourself… Are there more parts to this question? (Some questions have two or more parts!)

Ask yourself…

Are there more parts to this question?

(Some questions have two or more parts!)

Remember If you ONLY answer half the question , EVEN if you get that half 100% right… That’s only 50% of the question... And 50% is an F!

If you ONLY answer

half the question ,

EVEN if you get that half

100% right…

That’s only 50% of the question...

And 50% is an F!

Step Seven Check your work… just work backwards, using the opposite operations and see if you end up where you began.

Check your work…

just work backwards, using the opposite operations and see if you end up where you began.

Congratulations! That’s how to solve a math problem. Some more clues for math sleuths… Always try something. Never try nothing. Show your work and hand it in. Even if you don’t make it the whole way, you may have come close.

That’s how to solve a math problem.

Some more clues for math sleuths…

Always try something.

Never try nothing.

Show your work and hand it in. Even if you don’t make it the whole way, you may have come close.

Notes for teachers on texts correlation: Coordinates with Glencoe Mathematics (Florida Edition) texts: Mathematics: Applications and Concepts Course 1: (red book) Chapter 1 Lesson 1 A Plan for Problem Solving Mathematics: Applications and Concepts Course 2: (blue book) Chapter 1 Lesson 1: A Plan for Problem Solving Pre-Algebra: (green book) Chapter 1 Lesson 1: Using a Problem Solving Plan The language these texts use is a little different. They follow a 4 step plan Explore 2. Plan 3. Solve 4. Examine For more information on my math class see www.walsh.edublogs.org

Coordinates with Glencoe Mathematics (Florida Edition) texts:

Mathematics: Applications and Concepts Course 1: (red book)

Chapter 1 Lesson 1 A Plan for Problem Solving

Mathematics: Applications and Concepts Course 2: (blue book)

Chapter 1 Lesson 1: A Plan for Problem Solving

Pre-Algebra: (green book)

Chapter 1 Lesson 1: Using a Problem Solving Plan

The language these texts use is a little different.

They follow a 4 step plan

Explore 2. Plan 3. Solve 4. Examine

For more information on my math class see www.walsh.edublogs.org

Notes for teachers on design. This slide presentation was created using Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003 part of Microsoft Office Standard Version for Students and Teachers Clip Art came from Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003 without exception. Original font used was Ghostwriter. It provided a “clue-solve a mystery” aura which I haven’t been able to get SlideShare to retain in the transformation. You can download this font for FREE (PC or Mac) at this web address: http://simplythebest.net/fonts/fonts/ghostwriter.html Finally, thank you. I hope this is of help to your students. Taleese

This slide presentation was created using Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003 part of Microsoft Office Standard Version for Students and Teachers

Clip Art came from Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003 without exception.

Original font used was Ghostwriter. It provided a “clue-solve a mystery” aura which I haven’t been able to get SlideShare to retain in the transformation. You can download this font for FREE (PC or Mac) at this web address:

http://simplythebest.net/fonts/fonts/ghostwriter.html

Finally, thank you. I hope this is of help to your students. Taleese