MTH 208 Week 2 participation Solving Word Problems

General Model

The following general model for word problem solving is suggested:

• Read and heed the problem. What is it telling you? What is it asking? Define terms that you do not understand.
• Identify the unknowns. It is helpful to name these unknowns with a symbol. In algebra we typically use a letter known as a variable, but any symbol will do.
• Identify what is known. Write down all the information that the problem tells you. Even if you just repeat the givens in the problem, list them.
• Start to identify the relationships between what is known and what is unknown. This is the critical and creative part of solving a problem. Create a visual aid like a diagram, sketch, table, and equations if you can that allow you to see the relationships.
• Use the relationships identified in the previous step to generate a problem-solving strategy and ultimately an equation or set of equations that can be solved.
• Apply the strategy to solve the problem.

If the problem does not seem to work, REPEAT steps 1-5. The secret to problem solving is to apply a test of reasonableness, and then repeat the process as necessary. While no process guarantees a successful outcome, this technique will usually result in a better solution