Many students think word problems are hard. You have to read closely, think about the math needed, use those steps, and then check that the answer makes sense. Let’s dig a bit more into each step:
- Read closely: Some students circle the numbers in the questions to make sure they understand each number in the problem. High school students also underline the words that describe what we will solve for. If you are taking an online test, for hard word problems write the key numbers and a one-word definition in the corner of your scratch work. (There are some math and science problems that require this step!!)
- Think about the math needed: Can you solve this in one step? Sometimes an equation can help make the math clearer. If you are stuck, then a picture could help you see what is happening in this situation.
- Use the steps: Doing the math accurately is a critical part of the problem solving process!
- Check if the answer makes sense: Does it seem the right size? Are you sure you have the right unit? We will talk about LOTS of checking strategies. No one is perfect, but if we check our answers we can get close!
We write our most interesting questions as word problems.