Word problems DON’T PANIC! Some students believe they can’t do word problem solving in math. Don’t panic. It helps to read the question more than once. Read each question a number of times until you have made it make sense

Predict and Test Sometimes the story doesn’t give you enough information to be able to use the correct numbers immediately to solve the problem. The problems you have been set are such problems so unless you are lucky to guess the right numbers to work with straight away you will have to use your ‘wrong’ predictions to help form a better prediction to be tested. Keep predicting and testing until your test tells you you have the right answer.

Page 45 math book Page 44 explains the strategy for solving ‘Predict and Test’ problems. Read the page and note the chart that is used to record predictions just like the worksheet. Draw a table and use it to predict and test to find answers to questions 1 and 2. You may have to guess and check a number of times. Question 3 does not ask you to answer the problem, only to look at the 4 possible answers given and predict which one of those numbers might be. HINT: two of the numbers are far too big and one is far too small to allow for the pair of numbers you are looking for to add up to 27, at the same time as having a difference of 3 (when you subtract them). That only leaves one to choose from!!!! For question 4 the predictions are there for you. You must test each one against the question (add up to 27 and have a difference of 3). Only one prediction is correct.

Worksheet PS 16 The worksheet shows you how to draw a table to organize your math thinking. Use your wrong guesses to improve your prediction. In the chart (3) the prediction totaling 80 is too low (126 is needed). From this you can deduct that 20 and 30 need to be increased. You may need to record lots of predictions before you get the correct answer. If that is the case then you must use your ‘mistake’ to improve your predictions until you find the correct solution.

Don’t Panic Don’t spend hours and hours getting worried if you can’t understand what to do. Try and work through Questions 1, 2, 3 and 4 on page 45 If you enjoyed the challenge of the problems then do questions 5, 6 7 and 8. Go on to page 16 of the Practice workbook if you really want some more practice. I expect everyone to complete page 45 at least.

Take your time The definition of ‘a problem’ is something the answer to which is not immediately clear. That means that you are expected to spend some time thinking and working out the answers to problems. Do not look at the problems and immediately think ‘I can’t do that!’. Yes you can! You have all the math you need in your head to solve the problems if you READ the question carefully and follow the suggestions for recording predictions in the book.

Good luck You can do it!