How to "Check Your Work"

BTW - NEATNESS COUNTS!!! Don't lose points due to disorganized work. Use enough space to order and read digits or symbols clearly.

What does it mean when the teacher or your parents say, "Did you check your work?"????

Most students don't have a plan to "check" for things that could have gone wrong. Here are some concrete things to look for to more accurately "copy edit" math work.

Start by asking yourself...

• Did I copy the problem correctly?
• Did I show the step in between (I call it the action step. It's what is being done to both sides of an equation or inequality)
• Do all my negative signs follow the right rules? (this comprises about 80+% of all mistakes I see on tests and quizzes from 8th grade on)
• Did I use the correct operation? (will this operation do or undo what I want it to?)
• Did I distribute correctly?
• Does my answer make sense? (plug in to check if possible)
• Did I answer the question that was asked?

It may seem like a lot to look for at first, but with practice, anyone can train himself to be aware of things that could potentially go wrong.