What are the challenges?
• To know how to translate word problems into a
workable mathematical equation.
• To know where to start and how to go about
figuring out the answer.
• To know the strategies needed to break down a
word problem so it is clear and easy to solve.
Students fear and hate doing them!
6 Steps
for
Tackling
Math Word Problems
Step 1
Convert the words into an equation.
•Read through the entire problem first.
•Don’t try to solve it when you’ve only read one
sentence.
•Read the problem completely in order to get
the whole picture.
•Effectively translate and solve the problem.
Step 2
Go back to the beginning.
•Reread the first sentence.
•Write down what you know and what you don’t know.
•Use variables to stand for the unknowns and clearly
label what they stand for.
•Do the same for the second sentence and each following
sentence.
Step 3
Look for Signal Words that mean
certain mathematical operations.
Signal Words
Addition
Subtraction
Multiplication
Division
Equals
Addition
Added to
Together
Combined
Altogether
Increased by
Joined
More than
Deposit
Plus
Sum
Total
Subtraction
Decreased by
Difference between
How many more
Minus
How many left
How much change
Amount remaining
How much greater
Penalty
Less
Less than
Fewer than
Subtract (from)
Withdraw
Reduce
Deducted
Debt
Multiplication
Multiplied by
Product of
Twice (2 X)
Each (with all)
Of
Times
Same amount
Division
Divided by
Per
Quotient of
Each
Share equally
Out of
Percent
Ratio of
Equals
Are
Is
Sold for
Were
Gives
Yields
Was
Will be
Step 4
Perform the required operations.
Step 5
Make sure you are answering the
question that is being asked of you.
•One step may seem like it’s the answer, but it may
take several steps to arrive at the final answer .
•Don’t lose sight of what the word problem is asking for
or asking you to do.
•Label the answer with the unit of measurement or with
the object the question is requesting.
Step 6
Mentally or on paper check your answer to
make sure it is correct and makes sense.
•Replace the variable in each step with your answer.
•Calculate the equation with the now known variable to see if
it satisfies the equation.
If it does, then you’re done!
Practice, Practice, Practice!
Mastering word problems
requires practice!
References
http://www.tutorfi.com/Math/challenging
mathwordproblems