Reading Your Way to Better Grades
Most of the Difficulties in Word Problems are Associated with the Actual Reading of the Problem… An example: A system has a mass of 250 grams and a density of 4.0 grams/cm3. What is the volume of the system?
Step #1: Find the Question An example: A system has a mass of 250 grams and a density of 4.0 grams/cm3. What is the volume of the system? the question !!
Step #2: Ask yourself, “Do I know an equation that will solve for the requested variable?” An example: A system has a mass of 250 grams and a density of 4.0 grams/cm3. What is the volume of the system? Yes !! It is a density problem !! Mass Density Volume
Step #3: Write an equation that will solve for the requested variable. Volume = mass Density Mass Density Volume
Step #4: Find the Data that you need in the Text of the Problem. An example: A system has a mass of 250 grams and a density of 4.0 grams/cm3. What is the volume of the system? We call this process “data hunt” Volume = mass Density
Step #5: Substitute in the Found Values and Solve the Problem. An example: A system has a mass of 250 grams and a density of 4.0 grams/cm3. What is the volume of the system? Volume = mass Density 250 grams = 4.0 grams/cm3 = 62.5 cm3