1. Word Problem Solving
Jackie Hamlett

2. Problem Solving is easy if you follow these steps
Understand
the
problem

3. Step 1 – Understand the problem
1. Read the problem carefully.
2. Find and box in the bottom line question.
3. Underline important information.
4. Circle the math clue words.
5. Knock out extra information.
6. Solve the problem, and see if your answer makes sense.

4. Step 1 - Understand the Problem Read the problem carefully.
Jim took his three kids to Great America. His ticket was $ The children’s tickets were $34.00 each. How much
did all the CHILDREN’S tickets cost?

5. Step 2 - Find and box in the bottom line question.
Jim took his three kids to Great America. His ticket was $ The children’s tickets were $34.00 each. How much
did all the CHILDREN’S tickets cost?

6. Step 2 - The bottom line question
How much did all the CHILDREN’S tickets cost?
The bottom line question is the final answer the problem wants us to find.

7. Step 3. - Underline important information.
Jim took his three kids to Great America. His ticket was $ The children’s tickets were $34.00 each. How much did all the CHILDREN’S tickets cost?

8. Step 4- Circle the math clue words.
Jim took his three kids to Great America. His ticket was $ The children’s tickets were $34.00 each. How much
did all the CHILDREN’S tickets cost?

9. Step 4 - Circle the key words.
Key words let you know what math operation to use to solve the problem.
Each and all are the key words.
We are going to multiply.

10. MATH Key Words
All students received a Basic Math Resources handout the first day of class. There is a Math Key Words sheet in this packet.

11. Step 5. Knock out extra information.
Jim took his three kids to Great America. His ticket was $ The children’s tickets were $34.00 each. How much did all the CHILDREN’S tickets cost?
The bottom line question is how much did all the children’s’ tickets cost. We don’t need to know about the cost of Jim’s ticket, so we cross it off.

12. Problem Solving is easy if you follow these steps
Decide how
you’re going to
solve the
problem

13. Step 6 - Decide how you’re going to solve the problem Choose a method
Use a graph Use formulas
Write an equation Make a list
Find a pattern Use reasoning
Draw a picture Make a table

14. Step 6- Decide how you’re going to solve the problem Write your equation
X $34.00 =
# of tickets cost of each ticket
Since I know Jim bought 3 tickets to Great America, and each ticket cost $34.00

15. Problem Solving is easy if you follow these steps
Solve
The
Problem

16. Step 6 - Solve the problem
+ 1
$34
x 3
$10 2 to purchase 3 tickets

17. Problem Solving is easy if you follow these steps
Step 7. Look
Back &
Check to see if your answer makes sense

18. Step 7 -Look back and check.
Jim took his three kids to Great America. His ticket was $ The children’s tickets were $34.00 each. How much
did all the CHILDREN’S tickets cost? 3 x 34 = $ YES!

19. Does your answer make sense?
You can estimate the answer.
Three tickets times (round)
3 x 35 = 105, so 102 is pretty close!

20. Solve this problem.
Brittany had $84.75 in her savings account. She made a deposit. Her new balance was $ How much was her deposit?

21. What is the bottom line question?
Brittany had $84.75 in her savings account. She made a deposit. Her new balance was $ How much was her deposit?

22. What is the important information?
Brittany had $84.75 in her savings account. She made a deposit. Her new balance was $ How much was her deposit?

23. What are the key words?
Brittany had $84.75 in her savings account. She made a deposit. Her new balance was $ How much was her deposit?

24. How are we going to solve?
Brittany had $84.75 in her savings account. She made a deposit. Her new balance was $ How much was her deposit?
$ d = $107.03
$ $84.75 =

25. Sole this problem.
Anthony has twice as many tools as Joshua. If Anthony has 86 tools, how many does Joshua have?

26. What is the bottom line question?
Anthony has twice as many tools as Joshua. If Anthony has 86 tools, how many does Joshua have?

27. What is the important information?
Anthony has twice as many tools as Joshua. If Anthony has 86 tools, how many does Joshua have?

28. What are the key words?
Anthony has twice as many tools as Joshua. If Anthony has 86 tools, how many does Joshua have?

29. How are we going to solve?
Anthony has twice as many tools as Joshua. If Anthony has 86 tools, how many does Joshua have?
tools = 86/2 = 43 tools

30. Solve this problem.
Darell baked 90 cookies . If there are 15 cookies in each batch. How many batches did he bake?

31. What is the bottom line question?
Darell baked 90 cookies . If there are 15 cookies in each batch. How many batches did he bake?

32. What is the important information?
Darell baked 90 cookies . If there are 15 cookies in each batch. How many batches did he bake?

33. What are the key words?
Darell baked 90 cookies . If there are 15 cookies in each batch. How many batches did he bake?

34. How are we going to solve?
Darell baked 90 cookies . If there are 15 cookies in each batch. How many batches did he bake?
90/15 = batches baked
90/15 = 6 batches

35. Solve this problem.
You have just accepted a position at the Ace Manufacturing Company and have been given the salary choice of $42,000 annually with NO overtime OR $3200 per month with overtime. The department head informed you that the position requires an average of 4 hours overtime twice a month. Which option should you choose?

36. What is the bottom line question?
You have just accepted a position at the Ace Manufacturing Company and have been given the salary choice of $42,000 annually with NO overtime OR $3200 per month with overtime. The department head informed you that the position requires an average of 4 hours overtime twice a month. Which option should you choose?

37. What is the important information?
You have just accepted a position at the Ace Manufacturing Company and have been given the salary choice of $42,000 annually with NO overtime OR $3200 per month with overtime. The department head informed you that the position requires an average of 4 hours overtime twice a month. Which option should you choose?

38. What are the key words?
You have just accepted a position at the Ace Manufacturing Company and have been given the salary choice of $42,000 annually with NO overtime OR $3200 per month with overtime. The department head informed you that the position requires an average of 4 hours overtime twice a month. Which option should you choose?

39. How should we solve? $42,000 annually with NO overtime
OR $3200 per month with overtime.
4 hours overtime twice a month.

40. How should we solve? 3200 X 12 = 38,400 annually
OR $3200 per month with overtime.
4 hours overtime twice a month.
3200 X 12 = 38,400 annually
3200/160 = $20 OT plus
Time and one half = $30 per hour
$30 X 8 – 240 per month
240 X 12 = $2880
$38,400 + $2880 = $41, 280

41. How should we solve? $42,000 annually with 0 OT hours OR
$41, 280 annually with 8 hours of OT monthly
REFLECTION: Should he take the job?

42. Credits
Math problem solving with BUCKS, as edited by C.M., J.H. at CLC
Sample problems, first and last, J.H.
Key Words reproducible as edited by J.H., Really Good Stuff
Example problems, Monika Yuskaitis