Problem Solving

Settles Bridge Fourth Grade

Problem Solving is easy if you follow these steps

Understandthe

problem

Step 1 – Understand the problem• Read the problem carefully two times.• Underline the question(s) and circle the key

words in the question.• Rewrite the questions in your own words and

decide on computation sign(s) and steps you will use.

• Cross out any unnecessary information and answer the following: What do I already know? What do I need to know? Will my answer be larger or smaller than the starting point? Why?

Step 1 - Understand the Problem

• Anne always carried her change in her pocket. She had 65 cents. Anne was ready to shop! On her way, she found 25 cents on the sidewalk. From there, she walked into the gas station where she bought a bag of chips for 55 cents. How much money did Anne have left?

Read the problem carefully two times!

Step 1 - Understand the Problem

• Anne always carried her change in her pocket. She had 65 cents. Anne was ready to shop! On her way, she found 25 cents on the sidewalk. From there, she walked into the gas station where she bought a bag of chips for 55 cents. How much money did Anne have left?

Underline the question it is asking and circle the key words inside of

the question.

Step 1 - Understand the Problem

• Anne always carried her change in her pocket. She had 65 cents. Anne was ready to shop! On her way, she found 25 cents on the sidewalk. From there, she walked into the gas station where she bought a bag of chips for 55 cents. How much money did Anne have left?

Put the question into your own words and then decide on the step(s) and computation sign(s) you will use.

This word problem is asking me to find out how much money Anne has left after starting off with 65 cents, finding 25 cents, and then buying chips for 55 cents. My steps that I will use are first

adding 25 cents to 65 cents and then subtracting 55 cents from that answer. The computational signs I will use are + then -.

Step 1 - Understand the Problem

• Anne always carried her change in her pocket. She had 65 cents. Anne was ready to shop! On her way, she found 25 cents on the sidewalk. From there, she walked into the gas station where she bought a bag of chips for 55 cents. How much money did Anne have left?

Cross out any unnecessary sentences.

Step 1 - Understand the ProblemAnswer the following questions:

What do I already know?What do I need to know?

Will my answer be larger or smaller then the starting point? Why?

• I already know:She started with 65 centsShe found 25 centsThen, she paid 55 cents for chips

I need to know what is left after she added 25 cents and then spent 55 cents.

I think my answer will be smaller then 65 cents because even though she added 25 cents to her pocket, she paid 55 cents for the chips and that was only 10 cents less than what she started with.

Problem Solving is easy if you follow these steps

Decide howyou’re

going to solve theproblem

Step 2 - Decide how you’re going to solve the problem

Use a graph Use formulasWrite an equation Make a listFind a pattern Work backwardsUse reasoning Draw a pictureMake a table Act it out

Choose your method. Drawing a picture and/or writing an equation should

always be used!

Step 2 - Decide how you’re going to solve the problem

Draw your picture first!

This is Anne.

I have 65 cents in my pocket!

Quarter found on the sidewalk.

55 cents out of pocket for these!

Step 2 - Decide how you’re going to solve the problem

$ .65 to start $ .25 found

$ .55 for chips

Write your equation. Put in a variable for the information that is unknown

or the information that you still need.

Total left = ?

My Equation will look like this:

$ .65 + $ .25 - $ .55 = X

Problem Solving is easy if you follow these steps

Solve The

Problem

Step 3 - Solve the problemBe sure your answer is

complete and Show your work!

$ 0.65$ 0.25

0

1

9$ 0.

$ 0.90$ 0.55

8 10

53$ 0.

Problem Solving is easy if you follow these steps

LookBack &Check

Step 4 - Look Back & CheckWork the problem to check

your answer.

I will choose to work my problem backwards to

check.

$ 0.35 $ 0.90$ 0.55 $ 0.25

1

09$ 0.

10

5

8

6$ 0.

I got what I started with so I know I

answered my problem correctly!