Understanding Word Problems

Front

What is a word problem?

Back

A word problem is a mathematical question that is presented in the form of a story or real-life scenario, requiring interpretation and problem-solving skills to find the answer.

Front

What operation would you use to find the total distance if you ride to school and back?

Back

You would use addition (+) to find the total distance.

Front

If you have two lengths of paper, how do you find the total length when taped together?

Back

You add the two lengths together using addition (+).

Front

What does it mean if one person throws a ball farther than another?

Back

It means you need to subtract the shorter distance from the longer distance to find out how much farther one person threw.

Front

How do you find out how many more points you need to reach a goal?

Back

You subtract the points you have from the goal points using subtraction (-).

Front

What operation do you use to find the total number of uniforms needed for a team?

Back

You multiply the number of kids by the number of uniforms each kid gets using multiplication (x).

Front

What is the first step in solving a word problem?

Back

Read the problem carefully to understand what is being asked.

Front

How can you check if your answer to a word problem is correct?

Back

You can check your answer by reviewing the problem and ensuring your calculations make sense.

Front

What is the importance of identifying keywords in a word problem?

Back

Keywords help you determine which mathematical operations to use, such as 'total' for addition or 'difference' for subtraction.

Front

What does 'total' usually indicate in a word problem?

Back

'Total' usually indicates that you need to add numbers together.