Problem Solving

Problem Solving

Look for clues!

Should we ADD or SUBTRACT the numbers to solve?

Read carefully. Picture what the problem is saying. Look for CLUE words.

Poll

It says, "How many more attend on day 2." Should we ADD or SUBTRACT?

• ADD

• SUBTRACT

Since the second day had MORE people than the first, they are asking us to figure out HOW MANY MORE - so we need to find the DIFFERENCE.

We subtract to find the DIFFERENCE.

Let's try another one!!

You've got this!

Should we ADD or SUBTRACT the numbers to solve?

Read carefully. Picture what the problem is saying. Look for CLUE words.

Poll

It tells us how far the balloon traveled on the first trip, and that it went "850 feet more on the second trip." Should we ADD or SUBTRACT?

• ADD

• SUBTRACT

We're given the distance of the first trip and told that the second trip was "850 feet MORE." We are looking for a LARGER number - the SUM of the two numbers.

We need to add to find the SUM.

Try it...

Remember to read carefully, make a picture in your mind, and look for CLUES.

Last year - $109,076

This year - $125,805

How much more were the ticket sales THIS year?

(We are comparing this year to last year.)

Multiple Choice

How much more were the ticket sales THIS year than LAST year? What operation will we use?

• Addition

• Subtraction

665 balloon pilots

1,550 more ground crew members than pilots.

How many ground crew members?

(We want to know how many ground crew members there are.)

Multiple Choice

665 pilots and 1550 more ground crew members. How many ground crew members? What operation will we use?

• Addition

• Subtraction

Look for HINTS to help you decide which operation to choose.

Certain words can guide you to select the correct operation.

These words suggest that you should ADD:

• How many in all...

• How many all together... (combined; both)

• What is the total number...

• The problem gives you a number for one group and told that there are "X" MORE in the other group

• Increased (went up); joined

These words suggest that you should SUBTRACT:

• How many more...

• How many fewer/less..

• How many remain/are left...

• Less than...

• Decreased (went down)...

Time to try it

Go to Canvas Math and click on today for your independent work.