E.P.S.E
Problem Solving Model
•Explore
•Plan
•Solve
•Examine
Created by: Missler, Quinby, Shoecraft and Yaccino
PowerPoint by: Salazar
E.P.S.E
Problem Solving Model
Explore – Fact Finding.
Read the whole problem carefully.
Reread if necessary.
1. What do you need to find out?
(Write the question.)
2. Underline all facts in the problem
that you need.
Solve – Find the answer.
1. Use your plan to find the answer.
Show all your work.
2. Circle the Answer. (Include Units or
Labels)
Plan – How will I solve this problem?
1. Explain what task or tasks you will use
to solve the problem.
(A strategy, a formula…)
Examine – Explain or show why your
answer is reasonable.
1. Did you answer the correct question?
(Draw arrows.)
2. Does your answer make sense?
(Check the problem in a different
way or use common sense.)
EXAMPLE!!
Explore – Fact Finding
1. Read the whole problem
carefully. Reread if necessary.
2. What do you need to find out?
(Write the question.)
3. Underline the facts you
need in the problem.
Plan – How will I solve this problem?
1. Explain what strategy or
strategies you will use to solve the
problem.
Solve – Find the answer
1. Work your plan to find the answer.
2. Show all your work.
3. Circle the answer (include units or
labels).
Examine – show or explain
why your answer is reasonable.
1. Did you answer the right
question(s)? (Draw Arrows.)
2. Does your answer make sense?
•check the problem in a different way.
•use common sense!
• Use the EPSE model to solve the
following word problem:
Mrs. Nurre want to buy a Blue
Ray Player that costs $460.
She plans to make a down
payment of $100 and pay the
rest in eight equal payments.
What will be the amount of
each payment?
Explore
Plan
Need to find:
What will be the amount of
each payment?
(Facts Underlined in problem)
Costs $460
Down payment of $100
Pay rest in 8 equal payments
Solve
Strategy:
Subtract down payment from
the cost; then divide into equal
payments
Examine
Show work:
460 – 100 = 360
360 ÷ 8 = 45
Answer:
$45.
Did I answer the right question?
yes
Does my answer make sense?
Yes, because $45 x 8 = $360
and $360 + $100 = $460 and
that’s how much the Blue Ray
Player cost.
E.P.S.E
Problem Solving Model
• Your turn!! 
• Take a sheet of paper or use your
spiral for notes 
• Draw 4 quadrants
E
P
Like this
S
E
Your turn.
20 m
Mr. Jones just finished his new
backyard. How many square meters of
grass were needed to cover the area
shown in green? The blue square is a
fountain.
37 m