Problem-solving Steps

Were you good at solving word problems? Probably not. Most of us struggled with 'story problems' in school, and many have difficulty with them as adults trying to help fourth graders. Fortunately, difficulty solving word problems in Math is not a permanent condition.

Here are the steps that will help make the process of doing word problems easier:


1.What is the problem?
2. What do you know?
3. What is your plan or strategy?
4. Write the solution (answer) in a complete sentence.

Let's apply those steps to the following word problem.

A penguin can swim 11 miles per hour. At this speed, how far can it swim in 3 hours?

1. What is the problem? How far can it swim in 3 hours?

2. What do I know? The penguin can swim 11 miles per hour, or 11 miles in 1 hour.

3. What is my plan? I will make a table and look for a rule.   Hours      MPH
                                                                                                   1              11
                                                                                                   2              22
                                                                                                   3              33
Rule: add 11

4. The penguin will swim 33 miles in 3 hours.