MrV’s Solving Word Problems

1. MrV’s Solving Word Problems 1. Read the whole problem slowly, all the way through HW only: Write down the Problem # and summarize BRIEFLY Examples: “76. Spaulding Co. Checking” “78. Monthly Car Expenses” 2. Find the Question that is asked (there may be more than 1) HW/Test: Re-Write it as an Answer Form with measures but no value Examples: “$_____total deposits” “$_____ each month” “___cm by ___cm” 3. Find the numbers within the problem HW/Test: List the numbers and their meanings 4. Figure out how to compute the numbers to get the answer HW/Test: Do the math and get an answer value 5. Check your answer value(s) HW: If it matches the book’s answer, copy into the Answer Form and circle it. If it doesn’t match, either: correctly redo the problem ormark it wrong. Test: Double-check the copied numbers and your calculations: fix (if needed), then copy the value(s) to Answer Form

2. Key Words and Phrases to Look For in Word Problems 3 + 5 or 5 + 3 7 + 5 or 5 + 7 3 + 9 or 9 + 3 Addition 4 + 6 or 6 + 4 8 + 3 or 3 + 8 5 + 10 or 10 + 5 subtracted from 5 subtracted from 11 11 – 5 5 – 11 or 11 – 5 Subtraction 8 – 5 or 5 – 8 9 – 3 or 3 – 9 2 – 7 or 7 – 2 8 – 2 or 2 – 8 5 – 1 or 1 – 5

3. Key Words and Phrases to Look For in Word Problems 7(3) or (7)(3) or 7•3 6(9) or 6•9 or 6 + 9 Multiplication 8•2 or 8(2) or (8)2 fraction of one-half of 14 (½)14 ½(14) or (½)14 7(2) or 2(7)or72 twice twice7 2(7) 9  3 or 3  9 Division 2 6 or 6 2 the ratio of the ratio of 5 to 9 5/9 5 / 9 or 9 / 5 the square of the square of 5 52 25or 5(2) or 52 Powers 3(13) or 13(13)(13) or 133 the cube of the cube of 13 133

4. O. E. F. M. K. D. J. G. H. A.