1. Dissecting word problems
Physics 2016

2. Step 1: Read the whole problem
Before attempting to solve anything, read the entire word problem to get a good grasp on everything.
1. A football field is about 100 m long. If it takes a person 20 seconds to run its length, how fast (what speed) were they running?

3. Step 2: Pull out all the important information
Don’t let a word problem intimidate you. Pull out all the important information from the problem and organize it.
1. A football field is about 100 m long. If it takes a person 20 seconds to run its length, how fast (what speed) were they running?

4. Step 3: Decided what the problem is asking you to solve for
Once you have all the important information pulled out and organized. As yourself, “what is this problem asking me to solve for? What information do I have and what information do I not have?”
1. A football field is about 100 m long. If it takes a person 20 seconds to run its length, how fast (what speed) were they running?

5. Step 4: Decide what formula you need to use
With all the information organized and knowing what the problem is asking you to solve for, pick the correct formula.
1. A football field is about 100 m long. If it takes a person 20 seconds to run its length, how fast (what speed) were they running?

6. Step 5: Plug in the information and solve
With the information organized and correct formula, plug in the information and solve. 1. A football field is about 100 m long. If it takes a person 20 seconds to run its length, how fast (what speed) were they running?

7. Step 1: Read the whole problem
Before attempting to solve anything, read the entire word problem to get a good grasp on everything.
2. The pitcher’s mound in baseball is 85 m from the plate. It takes 4 seconds for a pitch to reach the plate. How fast is the pitch?

8. Step 2: Pull out all the important information
Don’t let a word problem intimidate you. Pull out all the important information from the problem and organize it.
2. The pitcher’s mound in baseball is 85 m from the plate. It takes 4 seconds for a pitch to reach the plate. How fast is the pitch?

9. Step 3: Decided what the problem is asking you to solve for
Once you have all the important information pulled out and organized. As yourself, “what is this problem asking me to solve for? What information do I have and what information do I not have?”
2. The pitcher’s mound in baseball is 85 m from the plate. It takes 4 seconds for a pitch to reach the plate. How fast is the pitch?

10. Step 4: Decide what formula you need to use
With all the information organized and knowing what the problem is asking you to solve for, pick the correct formula.
2. The pitcher’s mound in baseball is 85 m from the plate. It takes 4 seconds for a pitch to reach the plate. How fast is the pitch?

11. Step 5: Plug in the information and solve
With the information organized and correct formula, plug in the information and solve.
2. The pitcher’s mound in baseball is 85 m from the plate. It takes 4 seconds for a pitch to reach the plate. How fast is the pitch?

12. 1. Before attempting to solve anything, read the entire word problem to get a good grasp on everything.
2. Don’t let a word problem intimidate you. Pull out all the important information from the problem and organize it.
3. Once you have all the important information pulled out and organized. As yourself, “what is this problem asking me to solve for? What information do I have and what information do I not have?”
4. With all the information organized and knowing what the problem is asking you to solve for, pick the correct formula.
5. With the information organized and correct formula, plug in the information and solve.