1. Problem Solving Strategies: Word Problems1

2. “Word problems scare me!”2

3. “Word problems make me nervous!”3

4. “Word problems? I just skip them!”4

5. Don’t Worry! a Word Problem Whiz!
With just 4 easy steps, you can become…
a Word Problem Whiz! 5

6. STEP ONE- Understanding the problem
Read the word problem and identify the important information you will need to solve the problem. Think to yourself what are you trying to figure out?
Here’s an example:
Yesterday, Alex saw 14 birds in his backyard. Today, he saw 12. How many birds did he see in all?
In this problem, what are you trying to figure out? 6

7. If you said: “How many birds did Alex see in all?” then… You’re right!7

8. STEP TWO- Make a Plan
Identify the operation you will need to solve the problem.
Addition
Subtraction
Multiplication
Division 8

9. Addition Addition word problems often use words like: 9 Increased by
More than
Combined
Together
Total of
Sum
Added to
Example:
Jane has 10 Barbie's and for her birthday she gets 3 more. How many Barbie’s does Jane have now? (10+3=?) 9

10. Subtraction Subtraction word problems often use words like: 10
Decreased by
Minus, less than
Difference
Less than
Fewer than
Away/loose
Example:
If there are 10 cars in one parking and 6 less cars in the second parking lot. How many more cars are there in the second parking lot? (10-6=?) 10

11. Multiplication Multiplication word problems often use words like: 11
Times
Multiplied by
Product of
Total
In all/ altogether
Example:
If Mary has 3 pets and Annie has 2 times as many pets as Mary. How many pets does Annie have? (3x2=?) 11

12. Division Division word problems often use words like: 12 Out of Share
How many are left
Per
Quotient of
Example:
If Bobbi had 15 cookies and ate the same amount each day for 5 days how many did she eat per day? (15÷5=? ) 12

13. Now that we UNDERSTAND the problem, and have a PLAN, we’re ready for the next step!13

14. STEP THREE- Solve it! Solve the Problem 14
Choose one of the many problem solving strategies:
Drawings and illustrations
Making an equation
Make a Table
Guess and Check
Or use your own strategy 14

15. DRAWINGS AND ILLUSTRATIONS
Drawing a picture is a great way to solve word problems. You not only get the answer but it is easy to see WHY you get the answer. A good example of a problem you would want to make a drawing for would be a problem like:
For Stacie's birthday she got a bag of marbles from her friend Amy. The bag has 6 red marbles, 10 blue marbles, 4 yellow marbles, and 1 green marble. How many marbles does she have in her bag?
Figure out what you are trying to find: How many marbles there are in the bag.
Make a plan: Draw out each set of marbles and count them up.
there are a total of 21 marbles! 15

16. MAKE AN EQUATION
Making an equation is also a great way to solve word problems. You just take the numbers from the problem and turn them into an equation. This problem would be a good example of when to use an equation:
For a school bake sale 5 students each brought in something to sell. Keri brought 2 dozen cookies, Rachel brought 1 dozen brownies, Max brought 2 dozen muffins, Michelle brought 1 dozen cupcakes, and Sarah brought 2 dozen rice crispy bars. How many treats did they have to sell?
Decide what you are trying to find in this case: How many treats they will have to sell.
Make a plan or in this case an equation. We know that there are 12 treats in a dozen and we know how many dozen cookies we have so here are some sample equations you could use:
2(12)+1(12)+2(12)+1(12)+2(12)=96
( )12=96
Then just simply solve the Problem Mathematically
Remember
a dozen = 12. 16

17. MAKE A TABLE 17 Week $ allowance 1 $6.00 2 $7.50 3 $9.00 4 $10.50 5
Making a table is a very organized and simple way to solve some story problems. It is best used when dealing with problems like:
Andy and his parents decided that for his allowance would go up one dollar and 50 cents every week for 3 weeks. If he starts out at getting 6 dollars how much would he make week 5?
Find: What will his allowance be week 5?
Plan: Make a chart of what his allowance will be each week 
Week
$ allowance 1
$6.00 2
$7.50 3
$9.00 4
$10.50 5
$12.00 17
$12.00

18. GUESS AND CHECK
The guess and check method isn’t the fastest but it is very effective. You would usually use it on problems like this:
If two sisters ages add up to 22 years and one is 4 years older than the other what are there two ages?
You are trying to find what: Their Ages
Plan: Select random numbers that add up to 22 until you find two that are 4 apart.
10 and 12: 10+12=22 but 12-10=2 not 4; 8 and 15: 8+15= 22 but 15- 8=6; 9 and 13: 9+13=22 and 13-9=4 so there ages are 9 and 13! 18

19. STEP FOUR- Write the answer
Writing your answer to the word problem is the final step
When writing the answer there are a few things you have to remember
What are you trying to find
If your answer should be in units such as (cups, or inches)
Your answer should be in complete sentences 19

20. Examples of Answers Wrong way to Answer this Word Problem:
If Keri has 3 apples and 5 oranges how many more oranges does she have than apples?
Wrong way to Answer this Word Problem:
2 (it is the right answer but when working with word problems you have to explain your answer)
Right Way to Answer this Word Problem:
Keri has 2 more oranges than apples.
Now that you are familiar with Solving Word Problems lets test your memory with some worksheets and a quiz! 20