Tips for Problem Solving
1. Understand the problem
Read and reread the whole problem.
Underline clue words.
What are they asking you to do?
What information do you have?
Decide if there are multiple steps.
2. Make a Plan
Choose your strategies: i.e. formulas, draw a
picture, look for a pattern, guess and check, etc.
What operation or operations are needed - add,
subtract, multiply, or divide or maybe a
combination of two.
3. Try it Out
Go step by step.
Make sure you show each step.
4. Look Back
Does the answer make sense?
Did you answer the question?
Did you answer using the same words in the
problem?
Tips for Problem Solving
Clue Words for addition:
Sum
Total
In all
Perimeter
Clue Words for subtraction:
Difference
How much more
Exceed
Clue words for multiplication:
Product
Total
Area
Times
Clue words for division:
Share
Distribute
Quotient
Average