MrV’s Solving Word Problems
1. Read the whole problem slowly, all the way through
HW only: Write down the Problem # and summarize BRIEFLY
Examples: “76. Spaulding Co. Checking” “78. Monthly Car Expenses”
2. Find the Question that is asked (there may be more than 1)
HW/Test: Re-Write it as an Answer Form with measures but no value
Examples: “$_____total deposits” “$_____ each month” “___cm by ___cm”
3. Find the numbers within the problem
HW/Test: List the numbers and their meanings
4. Figure out how to compute the numbers to get the answer
HW/Test: Do the math and get an answer value
5. Check your answer value(s)
HW: If it matches the book’s answer, copy into the Answer Form and circle it.
If it doesn’t match, either: correctly redo the problem or mark it wrong.
Test: Double-check the copied numbers and your calculations:
fix (if needed), then copy the value(s) to Answer Form
Key Words and Phrases to Look For in Word Problems
3 + 5 or 5 + 3
7 + 5 or 5 + 7
3 + 9 or 9 + 3
4 + 6 or 6 + 4
Addition
8 + 3 or 3 + 8
5 + 10 or 10 + 5
subtracted from
5 subtracted from 11
11 –115 – 5
5 – 11 or
8 – 5 or 5 – 8
9 – 3 or 3 – 9
2 – 7 or 7 – 2
8 – 2 or 2 – 8
5 – 1 or 1 – 5
Subtraction
Key Words and Phrases to Look For in Word Problems
7(3) or (7)(3) or 7•3
6(9) or 6•9 or 6 + 9
8•2 or 8(2) or (8)2
fraction of
one-half of 14
twice
twice 7
Multiplication
½(14) or
(½)14
(½)14
7(2) or 2(7)
2(7) or 72
9  3 or 3  9
2  6 or 6  2
the ratio of
the ratio of 5 to 9
the square of
the square of 5
the cube of
the cube of 13
Division
5/99 / 5
5 / 9 or
25 or 5(2)52 or 52
3(13) or 13(13)(13)
133 or 133
Powers
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