Steps to Solving Word Problems
What are the first two steps to solving words problems?
Circle the numbers.
Underline the labels.
Name 1 addition clue word.
Add, in all, put together, altogether, combined, etc.
How do I know I need to add in this problem:
My dog has 16 sticks. Kerry's dog has 15 sticks. How many sticks do they have altogether?
The clue word "altogether" tells us we need to add.
How do I know I need to subtract in this problem:
I started with 30 pencils. My students took 15 pencils. How many pencils do I have left?
The clue words took and left are in the problem, which tell me to subtract.
What are the two skills you can use when solving multiplication word problems?
What are the last two steps to solving word problems?
Highlight the clue words.
Solve the problem.
Name 2 subtraction clue words.
Subtract, take away, loss, less, lost, lose, left, etc.
How do I know that I need to add in this problem:
The temperature started at 65-degrees. It increased by 15-degrees. What was the final temperature?
The clue word "increased" tells me that I need to add.
How do I know that I need to subtract in this problem:
The temperature started out at 40-degrees. By the end of the day it had dropped 20-degrees. What is the final temperature?
The clue word "dropped" tells me that I need to subtract.
What is the answer to this problem:
There are 15 boxes in the classroom. In each box, there are 10 highlighters. How many highlighters are there in all?
15 x 10 = 150 highlighters
True or False: You only find the labels after the numbers.
False. You might also find the labels in the question.
Name two addition clue words and two subtraction clue words.
Add, subtract, put together, take away, in all, lost, left, in total, etc.
Added, combined, increased, in all, total, altogether, and put together are all examples of what?
Addition clue words
Subtract, take away, decreased, left, lost, and dropped are all examples of what?
Subtraction clue words.
What is the answer to this problem:
The 12 water bottles have 12-ounces of water in them. How much water is there altogether?
12 x 12 = 144-ounces of water
True or False: Clue words are only in the question.
False. Clue words can also be earlier in the problem.
True or False: Multiplication clue words can also be addition and subtraction clue words.
False. They can only be addition clue words too.
What is the answer to this problem:
I need 4 cups of flour. Terry needs 3 cups of flour. John needs 6 cups of flour. How many cups of flour do they need altogether?
13 cups of flour
What is the answer to this problem:
There were 25-ounces of water in the bottle. I drank 15-ounces of water. How many ounces of water are left in the bottle.
10 ounces of water.
Correct or Incorrect: The answer to this problem is 50.
The teacher brought in 5 boxes of cookies. Each box has 10 cookies in it. How many cookies are there in all?
Incorrect. The answer is missing the label.
What do you have to do first when you are handed a word problem?
You have to read the problem first.
What is the clue word in this word problem: My sister, my mom, and I combined all of our eggs. We had 10 eggs, 8 eggs, and 6 eggs. How many eggs do we have?
Combined
True or False: The answer to this problem is 45 crackers.
My box has 12 crackers in it. Ms. K's box has 13 crackers in it. Ms. Lambert's box has 11 crackers in it. Ms. Hatcher's box has 12 crackers in it. How many crackers do we have altogether?
False.
True or False: The answer to this problem is 13-degrees.
The temperature was at 45-degrees this morning. It decreased by 20-degrees. What was the final temperature?
False
Correct or Incorrect: The answer to this problem is 24 lamps.
There are 6 lamps in each room. There are 6 rooms. How many lamps are there in all?
Incorrect. The answer is 36 lamps.