Understanding Word Problems 2

1. Language & Life Experience - Related

   1. Read & understand the problem and the English & Math vocabulary used

   2. Understand the real-life context of the problem.

   3. Understand what the final solution or value required is.

2. Structured Thinking

   1. Locate the words & facts relevant to the context. Ignore extraneous details.

   2. Try to remember a similar problem solved earlier

   3. Where feasible, represent data through sketches or organise in tabular form

3. Metaphor - Related

   1. Relate the life situation to one of the mathematical metaphors

   2. Identify the main operation(s) needed to solve the problem</a>

4. Represent the problem pictorially

   1. This would help in locating & focussing on the critical elements of a problem and

   2. The relation between the various elements

5. Numbers & Operations - Related

   1. Understand the kinds of numbers used & the related rules of computation for them

   2. Understand the units of measurements used & the related conversions which may be required

   3. If necessary, restate problem with simple numbers and quickly estimate the solution

6. Structured Thinking

   1. Identify the sequence of operations & the computations needed to solve the problem

7. Algorithmic & Computational Skills

   1. Follow the operation/ algorithmic procedures

   2. Perform the required computations on the numbers to arrive at the solution

8. Reviewing

   1. Verify if the solution looks reasonable

   2. Feed the solution into the problem and check if it is correct

9. Rechecking

   1. If necessary, recheck the steps & the computations starting from the first step.

10. Presentation Related

    1. Present the solution in logical steps using the correct vocabulary

    2. Relate the original problem & the solution using appropriate math vocabulary & syntax.

11. Practicing

    1. Making different word problems for a given computation e.g 5 + 8*4

Reading a Word Problem Several Times

In the initial stages, it is better to read the problem, along with the class, several times. And each time, starting with the understanding of the language, the deeper aspects can be analysed in turn. This process can be done a few times, until it becomes a habit.

Formative Assessment

These steps can also be used as a framework for “formative assessments” and identifying the precise nature of the weakness a student has. Once the nature of the weakness has been identified, remediation can be individualised.

A Caveat

These steps are meant only to provide broad guidelines. They cannot be flowed strictly in order. They are broadly in the order that they can provide a broad path to proceed. But a student may have to go back & forth in many of the steps.