Problem Solving and Test Taking Strategies MSA

Problem Solving in Mathematics Working Example Cindy was vacationing in North Carolina, which is 500 miles from her home. She drove 325 miles in 5 hours. What was her average speed?

Problem Solving in Mathematics Why do we learn how to solve problems in math? to become better problem solvers in all aspects of life. Allow students to give answers then press the space bar to reveal an answer.

Problem Solving in Mathematics What questions would you ask yourself as you approach a word problem? Allow students 3 minutes to brainstorm in pairs or groups. Have the students write the answers on their worksheet. Press the spacebar to start 3 minute timer 3 2 remaining minutes 1 times up Press spacebar to move to next slide

Problem Solving in Mathematics Allow students to share their answers.

What am I being asked to find? Press spacebar to reveal a response Some key questions as you approach the problem may be: What information do I need? What information is NOT needed? What are the keywords to help determine the operation(s)? Do I need a Diagram? List? Table? Do I need an equation or formula? If yes, which one? Will I use a calculator? Is there a pattern I can use and/or follow? Press spacebar to reveal a response

Problem Solving in Mathematics Now, let’s go to the working example to ask and answer some of these questions. Press spacebar to move to the next slide.

Problem Solving in Mathematics Working Example Cindy was vacationing in North Carolina, which is 500 miles from her home. She drove 325 miles in 5 hours. What was her average speed? What information is NOT needed? What information is needed? Allow students to answer the question, then Press spacebar to advance. Allow students to answer the question, then press spacebar to advance.. Press spacebar to move to the next slide.

Problem Solving in Mathematics Now we need to determine HOW to solve the problem. There are key words (clues) that can help you determine which operation to use. For example, the word sum means………. addition. Allow student to answer then press spacebar to display answer.

Problem Solving in Mathematics What are some clue words for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division? Allow students 3 minutes to brainstorm in pairs or groups. Have the students write the answers on their worksheet. Press the spacebar to start 3 minute timer 3 remaining minutes 2 1 times up Press spacebar to move to next slide

Problem Solving in Mathematics Allow students to share their answers. Then, advance through the next four slides to reveal a list of responses.

Clue Words for Addition Sum Total In all Perimeter Increase More than (Saba has 5 and Julie has 12 more than Saba. How much do they have all together?) All together

Clue Words for Subtraction: Difference How much more Exceed Fewer Decrease

Clue Words for Multiplication: Product Total Area Times Each (If they have 12 apples each, how many do they have in all?)

Clue Words for Division Share Distribute Quotient Average

Clue Word(s) What is the clue word? What is the operation? Division Now, we will identify the clue word from our working example Review the word problem. Working Example Cindy was vacationing in North Carolina, which is 500 miles from her home. She drove 325 miles in 5 hours. What was her average speed?

Let’s Solve The Word Problem Working Example Cindy was vacationing in North Carolina, which is 500 miles from her home. She drove 325 miles in 5 hours. What was her average speed? 325 miles 5 hours = 65 miles per hour

Finally, check your work 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?

We solved a word problem using a plan… Let’s talk about Problem Solving Plans

Problem Solving Plans

Problem Solving Plan in 4 Steps:

Problem Solving Plan in 5 Steps:

S O L V E State the problem Organize the Facts Line up a Plan Verify the plan with action Examine the Results

Reminders

Understand/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?

Plan/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.) If your strategy doesn't work, it may lead you to an 'aha' moment and to a strategy that does work.

Solve: Use your strategies to solve the problem.

Check/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?

Word Problems

Working Example 2 Maria is making a cake for her sister’s birthday. The recipe calls for 1/3 cup flour, 2 cups of sugar, and 1/2 cup of milk. Maria needs to double the recipe. How much more milk will she need than flour? Bake It Let’s Solve Together Read the problem.What information is NOT needed?What are we being asked to find?What are the clue(s)?What do the clue(s) mean? - x 2

Working Example 2 Maria is making a cake for her sister’s birthday. The recipe calls for 1/3 cup flour, 2 cups of sugar, and 1/2 cup of milk. Maria needs to double the recipe. How much more milk will she need than flour? Let’s apply the strategies to work through the problem Multiply the quantities of flour and milk by 2, then subtract those values. - x 2 Have students state how the operations are used to solve the problem. Press spacebar to reveal answer.

Solve the problem on the board with the students. Press spacebar when finished. Let’s do the math The next three slides contain the word problems on the student worksheet. Allow students 3 minutes to work each problem. Take 3 minutes to review each problem before moving on to the next problem. Press the spacebar to start the first word problem.

Chairs Needed You are planning to set up chairs for the school’s Broadway Review. The first row will have eight chairs. Each row thereafter will have three more chairs than the row in front of it. You are planning to have 12 rows. How many chairs should you set up? Press spacebar to start 3 minute timer 3 remaining minutes 2 1 times up Press spacebar to start the 3 minute discussion timer times up Press spacebar to move to the next problem Students are Working Teacher & Students are Discussing Answer

Pocket Change Manuel has 19 coins in his coat pocket that total $1.00. There are twice as many pennies as dimes. If he has quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies, how many of each type of coin does he have? Press spacebar to start 3 minute timer 3 remaining minutes 2 1 times up Press spacebar to start the 3 minute discussion timer times up Press spacebar to move to the next problem Students are Working Teacher & Students are Discussing Answer

Colorful Cycles There are 40 bicycles in the school’s courtyard. They are red, blue, and silver. One fourth of the bicycles are blue. There are 8 more silver bicycles than blue bicycles. How many red bicycles are in the courtyard? Press spacebar to start 3 minute timer 3 remaining minutes 2 1 times up Press spacebar to start the 3 minute discussion timer times up Press spacebar to move to the next slide Students are Working Teacher & Students are Discussing Answer

THE END