ROPES
PROBLEM SOLVING PROCESS
AND STRATEGIES
What is ROPES?

Ropes is a acronym for the steps of the problem solving
process that we will use to solve real life problems.
 R: Read the problem

Highlight any information that is needed to solve the problem
 O: Omit

Cross out any information that is unnecessary to solving the problem
 P: Make a plan

choose a problem solving strategy
 E: Evidence

show your work
 S: Solution

write your answer in a complete sentence with complete detail
R: Read the Problem
O: Omit any unnecessary information




The first step in the problem solving process is to read the problem.
After you have read the problem, you need to highlight the
important information that is needed to solve the problem.
When you have highlighted the information needed to solve the
problem, you must also omit or cross out information that is not
needed to solve the problem.
Not all problems have unnecessary information, so there may not
always be information that is crossed out.
Example:
The roots of a tree reach 12 feet into the ground. A dog chased
a black and white kitten up the tree. It is stuck 5 feet from the
top of the tree. From the treetop to the roots the tree is 32
feet. How far above ground is the kitten?
 First read the problem.
 Decide what information is important and needs to be
highlighted and what information needs to be omitted or
crossed out.
 Pause the podcast and try to follow the steps.
Example:
The roots of a tree reach 12 feet into the ground. A
dog chased a black and white kitten up the tree. It is
stuck 5 feet from the top of the tree. From the
treetop to the roots the tree is 32 feet. How far
above ground is the kitten?
P: Make a plan


Choose a problem solving strategy.
Strategies:
Draw a diagram
Make a chart/table
Work backwards
Find a pattern
Guess and test
Make an organized list
Example:

The roots of a tree reach 12 feet into the ground. A dog chased a black
and white kitten up the tree. It is stuck 5 feet from the top of the tree.
From the treetop to the roots the tree is 32 feet. How far above ground
is the kitten?
P: Draw a diagram
5 feet
32 feet
12 feet
E: Evidence
SHOW YOUR WORK!
Taken from: http://www.nde.ne.gov/stars/documents/MoonVermaas1.ppt
Example:
5 feet
32 feet
12 feet
Evidence: Using the diagram, you must show your work.
32 – 12 = 20 feet ~ This is the height of the tree from the ground.
20 – 5 = 15 feet ~ This is the height of the kitten from the ground.
Clips taken from: dclips.fundraw.com
S: Solution


Your solution should be written with detail in a
complete sentence.
For the example, our answer would be:

The cat is 15 feet from the ground.
Other Resources:

http://kapalama.ksbe.edu/elementary/resource/mproblemsolvingstrategies.ht
ml#Guess

http://web.scc.losrios.edu/files/tutoring/ProblemSolvingStrategies.doc

http://library.thinkquest.org/25459/learning/problem/index.html#strategy

http://library.thinkquest.org/J002327F/default.htm