1. Problem
Using 20 cubes, make four piles so that the first pile contains 4 more cubes than the second pile, the second pile contains 1 cube less than the third pile, and the fourth pile contains twice as many cubes as the second pile.
How many cubes are in each pile?

2. CLARIFY To make clear, to remove misconceptions.
You must answer the following questions to show an understanding of the problem.
What am I told?
What am I trying to find out?
Can I say it in my own words?

3. What am I trying to find out? Can I say it in my own words?
Using 20 cubes, make four piles so that the first pile contains 4 more cubes than the second pile, the second pile contains 1 cube less than the third pile, and the fourth pile contains twice as many cubes as the second pile. How many cubes are in each pile?
What am I told?
What am I trying to find out?
Can I say it in my own words?
Solve the problem. What strategy is best?

4. What am I told? 20 cubes 4 piles First pile, 4 more than second
Second pile, one less than third
Fourth has twice as many as second

5. What am I trying to find out?
How many cubes are in each pile so that the total number of cubes used is 20.

6. Solve the problem Pile 1 Pile 2 Pile 3 Pile 4 Total 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Strategy: Guess, Check and Refine
Pile 1
Pile 2
Pile 3
Pile 4
Total 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 -3 - - - - - - - - - - - 1 5 1 2 2 10 2 3 4 15 3 4 6 20
Write your answer in a sentence

7. Write your answer in a sentence
If I use 20 blocks, the first pile has 7 blocks, the second pile has 3 blocks, the third pile has 4 blocks and the four pile has 6 blocks.