Understanding Word Problems

1. Understanding Word Problems Lauren Williams

2. Objectives To be able to identify the different parts of a word problem. Then solve the problem.

3. Three Steps to Understand Identify the parts Retell the problem Unpack the problem.

4. Understanding Word Problems Identify the Parts

5. Don’t Jump to Solutions!! STOP READ – THINK – READ AGAIN ! Identify the Parts

6. Identify Parts of the Problem • What are you being asked to find? (the “unknown”)? • What facts are given (the “known”)? • Is there any information that does not seem important ? Identify the Parts

7. What is the “Unknown”? Liz went to the circus. Plain balloons cost 12 cents each. Fancy balloons cost 16 cents each. What would be the total cost for 5 plain and 5 fancy balloons?. Identify the Parts

8. What is the “Unknown”? Liz went to the circus. Plain balloons cost 12 cents each. Fancy balloons cost 16 cents each. What would be the total cost for 5 plain and 5 fancy balloons? Identify the Parts

9. What is “the Known”? Liz went to the circus. Plain balloons cost 12 cents each. Fancy balloons cost 16 cents each. What would be the total cost for 5 plain and 5 fancy balloons? Identify the Parts

10. What is “the Known”? Liz went to the circus. Plain balloons cost 12 cents each. Fancy balloons cost 16 cents each.What would be the total cost for 5 plain and 5 fancy balloons? Identify the Parts

11. Anything really not important? Liz went to the circus. Plain balloons cost 12 cents each. Fancy balloons cost 16 cents each.What would be the total cost for 5 plain and 5 fancy balloons? Identify the Parts

12. Anything really not important? Liz went to the circus.Plain balloons cost 12 cents each. Fancy balloons cost 16 cents each.What would be the total cost for 5 plain and 5 fancy balloons? Identify the Parts

13. Problem #2 Let’s try the skills we just learned! Identify the Parts

14. Identify Parts of the Problem • What are you being asked to find? (the “unknown”)? • What facts are given (the “known”)? • Is there any information that does not seem important ? Identify the Parts

15. What is the “Unknown”? Elaine is making three bracelets for Jane, Ellen, and Susan. She has 27 red beads, 21 white beads, and 9 silver beads. Each bracelet will look exactly the same. How many of each color bead will be in each bracelet? Identify the Parts

16. What is the “Unknown”? Elaine is making three bracelets for Jane, Ellen and Susan. She has 27 red beads, 21 white beads, and 9 silver beads. Each bracelet will look exactly the same. How many of each color bead will be in each bracelet? Identify the Parts

17. What is “the Known”? Elaine is making three bracelets for Jane, Ellen and Susan. She has 27 red beads, 21 white beads, and 9 silver beads. Each bracelet will look exactly the same. How many of each color bead will be in each bracelet? Identify the Parts

18. What is “the Known”? Elaine is making three bracelets for Jane, Ellen, and Susan. She has 27 red beads, 21 white beads, and 9 silver beads. Each bracelet will look exactly the same. How many of each color bead will be in each bracelet? Identify the Parts

19. Anything really not important? Elaine is making three bracelets for Jane, Ellen, and Susan. She has 27 red beads, 21 white beads, and 9 silver beads. Each bracelet will look exactly the same. How many of each color bead will be in each bracelet? Identify the Parts

20. Anything really not important? Elaine is makingthree braceletsfor Jane, Ellen, and Susan. She has 27 red beads, 21 white beads, and 9 silver beads. Each bracelet will look exactly the same. How many of each color bead will be in each bracelet? Identify the Parts

21. Don’t Jump to Solutions!Jeopardy Game You get the answer and figure out the question!

22. Directions for the next few slides: • Look at the “answer” shown on the slide – what is highlighted? • What Title should be placed on each slide? • What is the Unknown? • What is the Known? • What information is not important? • READY………GO! Identify the Parts

23. Casey’s family went to the zoo. The giraffe was the tallest animal they saw. It was 18 Ft. tall. Casey is 4 ½ feet tall. How many times taller is the giraffe than Casey? Identify the Parts

24. What is the Known! Casey’s family went to the zoo. The giraffe was the tallest animal they saw. It was 18 Ft. tall. Casey is 4 ½ feet tall. How many times taller is the giraffe than Casey? Identify the Parts

25. Casey’s family went to the zoo. The giraffe was the tallest animal they saw. It was 18 Ft. tall. Casey is 4 ½ feet tall. How many times taller is the giraffe than Casey? Identify the Parts

26. What is the Known! Casey’s family went to the zoo. The giraffe was the tallest animal they saw. It was 18 Ft. tall. Casey is 4 ½ feet tall. How many times taller is the giraffe than Casey? Identify the Parts

27. Casey’s family went to the zoo. The giraffe was the tallest animal they saw. It was 18 Ft. tall. Casey is 4 ½ feet tall. How many times taller is the giraffe than Casey? Identify the Parts

28. What is Unknown! Casey’s family went to the zoo. The giraffe was the tallest animal they saw. It was 18 Ft. tall. Casey is 4 ½ feet tall. How many times taller is the giraffe than Casey? Identify the Parts

29. Casey’s family went to the zoo.The giraffe was the tallest animal they saw. It was 18 Ft. tall. Casey is 4 ½ feet tall. How many times taller is the giraffe than Casey? Identify the Parts

30. What is the Unimportant Information! Casey’s family went to the zoo.The giraffe was the tallest animal they saw. It was 18 Ft. tall. Casey is 4 ½ feet tall. How many times taller is the giraffe than Casey? Identify the Parts

31. Next Step Now you are ready to solve the problem! Identify the Parts

32. Acknowledgements • http://www.cut-the-knot.org/arithmetic/WProblem.shtml Identify the Parts