Strategies for Solving Word Problems
Problem Solving Plan in 4 Steps:
1. Clues:
· Read the problem carefully.
· Underline clue words.
· Ask yourself if you've seen a problem similar to this one. If so, what is similar about it?
· What did you need to do?
· What facts are you given?
· What do you need to find out?
2. Game Plan:
· Define your game plan.
· Have you seen a problem like this before?
· Identify what you did.
· Define your strategies to solve this problem.
· Try out your strategies. (Using formulas, simplifying, use sketches, guess and check, look for a pattern, etc.)
3. Solve:
· Use your strategies to solve the problem
4. Reflect:
· This part is critical. Look over your solution.
· Does it seem probable?
· Did you answer the question?
· Are you sure?
· Did you answer using the language in the question?
· Same units?
Strategies taken from http://math.about.com/od/1/a/problemsolv.htm.
1. Clues:
· Read the problem carefully.
· Underline clue words.
· Ask yourself if you've seen a problem similar to this one. If so, what is similar about it?
· What did you need to do?
· What facts are you given?
· What do you need to find out?
2. Game Plan:
· Define your game plan.
· Have you seen a problem like this before?
· Identify what you did.
· Define your strategies to solve this problem.
· Try out your strategies. (Using formulas, simplifying, use sketches, guess and check, look for a pattern, etc.)
3. Solve:
· Use your strategies to solve the problem
4. Reflect:
· This part is critical. Look over your solution.
· Does it seem probable?
· Did you answer the question?
· Are you sure?
· Did you answer using the language in the question?
· Same units?
Strategies taken from http://math.about.com/od/1/a/problemsolv.htm.