1. Word Problem Strategies
September 30, 2011

2. 9/30 Bell Ringer: Percents Review 2 minutes, will turn in
1. There are 8 chairs around one dining room table. Three of the chairs have arm-rests. There are 8 chairs around another table, and 7 of them have arm-rests. What percent of the 16 chairs have arm-rests?
47.5%
50%
55%
62.5%
70%
1. There are 8 chairs around one dining room table. Three of the chairs have arm-rests. There are 8 chairs around another table, and 7 of them have arm-rests. What percent of the 16 chairs have arm-rests?
47.5%
50%
55%
62.5%
70%
2. Rachel wants to buy a calculator. A calculator normally sells for $80, but it is on sale for 40% off. Which expression correctly represents how to find the sale price?
80*40
80 – 80*(0.60)
80*60
80 – 80*(0.40)
80*(0.40)
2. Rachel wants to buy a calculator. A calculator normally sells for $80, but it is on sale for 40% off. Which expression correctly represents how to find the sale price?
80*40
80 – 80*(0.60)
80*60
80 – 80*(0.40)
80*(0.40)

3. Homework Solutions: Decimals and Percents Review Packet
>
<
<; <
1 ten thousandth
1 tenth
3 thousandths 40 5
0 hundredths
3000
3250
9/50
0.18
9/250
3.6 %
0.625
62.5 %
21/2500
0.0084
Jennifer ran 37.5 % of a mile.
Eric jogs 80% of the days he works out. B A C D

4. Word Problem Strategy
1) read the problem and highlight (or underline) key numbers and words or phrases

5. Key Words and Phrases
Key Words or Phrases clue you into the appropriate operation to use
WORDS
OPERATION
EXAMPLE
Altogether
Total
More than
Multiple of
Increased (by)
Plus
add or
multiply
(add) Jess picked up 43 marbles, 73 sea shells and 105 pins. How many things did he pick up altogether? (Or, what is the total number of things he picked?
(multiply) Fran bought seven lottery tickets every day for five days. How many tickets did she buy altogether? (or, what is the total number of tickets she bought?
Left
Remaining
subtract
How much money is left?
How much money is remaining?
More
Difference
Less than
How many more people live in New Jersey than in Colorado?
What is the difference between the number of people that live in New Jersey and Colorado?
The population of New Jersey is how much less than the population of Colorado?

6. Key Words and Phrases Cont’d
Increase
Go up
Grow
subtract
How much did the price increase from last year?
NOTE: This key word may surprise you. You might think that “increase would mean to add. But it doesn’t. To find an increase, you have to subtract the old, lower size for amount. The same goes for “go up” and “grow.”
Decrease
Go down
Reduce
How much did the price decrease from last year?
NOTE: You may think that if “increase” means subtraction, then “decrease” would mean addition. But it doesn’t. To find a decrease, you use exactly the same subtraction operation as for increase. The same goes for “go down” and “reduce.” Of
(particularly when used with fractions and percents)
multiply
(fraction) How many miles is 3/5 of the distance?
(percent) What is 43% of the original $600?
Each
divide
How many did each one get?
per
What is the price per gallon?

7. Finding Key Words and Phrases Practice
1. How much did each one cost?
Operation __________
Key Word/Phrase
_____________________
2. The team gained 75 yards less by rushing this week than it did last week. The team gained 315 yards last week. How much did the team gain this week?
Operation __________
Key Word/Phrase
_____________________
divide
each
subtraction
less

8. Word Problem Strategy: Step 2
Then, identify what the problem is asking you to find.
Ask yourself: what is the problem asking you to find?

9. Step 2 Practice 1. How much did each one cost?
What is the problem asking you to find?
_____________________
2. The team gained 75 yards less by rushing this week than it did last week. The team gained 315 yards last week. How much did the team gain this week?
What is the problem asking you to find?
_____________________
How much each of something cost
How many yards the team gained by rushing this week

10. Word Problem Strategy: Step 3
Next, choose a method to solve the problem (define variables and set up expression, draw picture or diagram, etc.) and solve.
Ask yourself: how do I solve the problem?
Next, set up an expression that uses the numbers and key words/phrases
Or draw a picture/diagram/etc. to explain the problem
Then, solve the problem using the expression or picture

11. Step 3: Practice
1. The team gained 75 yards less by rushing this week than it did last week. The team gained 315 yards last week. How much did the team gain this week?
How do I solve the problem?
____________________________________________________
Define variables if needed
Set up an expression or draw a picture/diagram
Solve the problem
Subtracting 75 from 315
R = rushing yards this week
315 – 75 = R
R = 240 yards

12. Word Problem Strategy: Step 4
Finally, write out your answer in a complete sentence within the context of the problem (make sure to include units).

13. Step 4: Practice
1. The team gained 75 yards less by rushing this week than it did last week. The team gained 315 yards last week. How much did the team gain this week?
Write a complete sentence describing the answer
_________________________________________________
The team gained 240 yards by rushing this week.

14. Word Problem Strategy: Practice
Julie measured a plant in the spring. It was 32 cm high. When she measured it in the fall it was 78 cm high. How much did the plant grow?
Highlight or underline the key numbers and words/phrases
What does the problem want us to find?
_________________________________________________
Set up the problem and solve
Explain solution in complete sentence
Julie measured a plant in the spring. It was 32 cm high. When she measured it in the fall it was 78 cm high. How much did the plant grow?
Highlight or underline the key numbers and words/phrases
What does the problem want us to find?
_________________________________________________
Set up the problem and solve
Explain solution in complete sentence
How much the plant grew from spring to fall
G = how much the plan grew
78 – 32 = G
G = 46 cm
The plant grew 46 cm from spring to fall.

15. PLAN Type Problems Practice
1. When Frank went to the store on Monday he bought 4/5 of a pound of grapes. How many pounds of grapes did Frank eat on Monday if he has 2/3 of a pound of grapes left on Tuesday?
3/13
2/15
4/11
6/17
7/12
1. When Frank went to the store on Monday he bought 4/5 of a pound of grapes. How many pounds of grapes did Frank eat on Monday if he has 2/3 of a pound of grapes left on Tuesday?
3/13
2/15
4/11
6/17
7/12
2. Mrs. White’s gross monthly income in $1,800. If 15% is withheld for income taxies, 7% for Social Security, and 2% for insurance, what is her net monthly income (after deducting these expenses)?
$432
$630
$1,210
$1,368
$1,530
2. Mrs. White’s gross monthly income in $1,800. If 15% is withheld for income taxies, 7% for Social Security, and 2% for insurance, what is her net monthly income (after deducting these expenses)?
$432
$630
$1,210
$1,368
$1,530