Become a math detective! Learn powerful strategies to tackle any word problem. Understand, draw, solve, and check like a pro problem solver!
Master word problem solving with detective strategies!
Addition or subtraction?
Drag the important numbers!
🖱️ Drag options below to the correct boxes (computer) or click to move (mobile)
What's the answer?
Does the answer make sense?
Click all correct options
Become a word problem expert! Learn strategies that work for any math story!
The first step is UNDERSTANDING what the problem is asking! Read carefully and find the QUESTION. What do they want to know? Circle or underline the question. If you don't understand what they're asking, you can't solve it!
💡 Think of understanding the question like finding the treasure on a map - you need to know what you're looking for!
Finding the Question
Problem says: 'Emma has 5 apples. Gets 3 more. How many now?' The question is 'How many now?'
What Are They Asking?
'Jake has 12 cookies. Eats 5. How many left?' They want to know how many LEFT!
Restating the Question
After reading, say it in your own words: 'They want me to find how many apples Emma has total.'
Key Question Words
'How many?' 'How much?' 'What is?' - these words signal what you need to find!
Jumping to solve without understanding the question! Always know WHAT you're solving for first!
Word problems have IMPORTANT NUMBERS and information, plus extra details! Find the numbers you NEED to solve the problem. Ignore extra information. Circle the important numbers!
💡 Think like a detective - sift through all the words to find the clues (numbers) you actually need!
Identifying Key Numbers
'Maria has 8 red balloons and 5 blue balloons.' Important: 8 and 5. Color isn't needed for total!
Ignoring Extra Info
'On Monday, Sam collected 7 rocks and 4 shells.' Need: 7 and 4. Monday doesn't matter for the total!
All Given Numbers Matter
'Class has 15 students. 6 are absent.' Both numbers are important to find how many present!
Missing Numbers
Sometimes you need to figure out a number from context - that's advanced detective work!
Using ALL numbers even if not needed! Or missing a number hidden in words!
DRAWING helps you SEE the problem! Draw simple circles, boxes, or stick figures for objects. Show the action - adding more or taking away. Pictures turn confusing words into clear visuals!
💡 Think of drawing as creating a movie in your mind - show what's happening in the story!
Draw the Objects
Problem about 6 apples? Draw 6 circles. Adding 3 more? Draw 3 more circles. Count all!
Show the Action
Taking away? Draw items and cross them out with X. Visual subtraction!
Number Lines Help
Draw a number line! Start at first number, hop forward (add) or back (subtract)!
Bar Models
Draw bars to represent amounts. Compare bar lengths to see more/less!
Drawing too detailed! Keep it simple - circles, boxes, and lines work perfectly!
After understanding the problem, decide: ADD or SUBTRACT? Are things joining together (add)? Taking away (subtract)? Comparing (usually subtract)? Pick the right operation for the situation!
💡 Think of operations like tools in a toolbox - pick the right tool for the job!
Join Together = Add
'5 kids playing, 4 more join.' Things joining = ADD! 5+4=9
Take Away = Subtract
'12 cookies, eat 5.' Taking away = SUBTRACT! 12-5=7
Compare = Subtract
'Jake has 9, Emma has 5. How many more does Jake have?' Compare = SUBTRACT! 9-5=4
Part-Part-Whole
'8 red and 7 blue flowers. Total?' Combining parts = ADD! 8+7=15
Choosing wrong operation! Read carefully - is something being added or removed?
Turn the word problem into a NUMBER SENTENCE! Use numbers and symbols (+, -, =). This makes the problem clear and easy to solve. Write what you know, solve for what you don't know!
💡 Think of a number sentence as translating the story into the language of math!
Simple Addition
'7 birds + 4 birds' becomes: 7 + 4 = ? Then solve: 11
Simple Subtraction
'15 apples - 6 apples' becomes: 15 - 6 = ? Then solve: 9
Missing Number Start
'Some toys + 5 toys = 12 total' becomes: ? + 5 = 12. Figure out the missing number!
Complete Sentence
Always write the full answer: 7 + 4 = 11 (not just 11 by itself)
Forgetting to write the equation! Always translate words to numbers before solving!
After solving, CHECK if your answer makes sense! Is it reasonable? If you added, is the answer bigger? If you subtracted, is it smaller? Does it fit the story? Be a checker, not just a solver!
💡 Think of checking as being a quality control inspector - make sure everything makes sense!
Does It Make Sense?
Problem: 'Had 10, got 3 more.' Answer: 13. Check: 13 is bigger than 10? YES! Makes sense!
Wrong Direction Alert
Problem: 'Had 15, ate 5.' Answer: 20? NO! Taking away means LESS, not more! Error!
Use Estimation
'About 10 + about 10 should be about 20.' Get 19? Close! Get 5? Something's wrong!
Reread With Answer
Put your answer back in the story. 'Jake had 12, got 5 more, now has 17.' Does that work? Yes!
Not checking at all! Always verify your answer makes sense in the context!
Word problems come in different types! RESULT UNKNOWN (find the answer), CHANGE UNKNOWN (find what changed), START UNKNOWN (find the beginning). Recognizing types helps you solve faster!
💡 Think of problem types like different story genres - each has its own pattern!
Result Unknown
'Had 8, got 5 more. How many now?' Find the ending: 8+5=13
Change Unknown
'Had 10, some flew away, 6 left. How many flew?' Find the change: 10-?=6, so 4 flew
Start Unknown
'Some cookies, ate 4, 7 left. How many at start?' Find beginning: ?-4=7, so 11
Compare Problems
'Sam has 12, Emma has 8. How many more does Sam have?' Compare: 12-8=4 more
Thinking all problems work the same way! Different types need different thinking!
Good problem solvers have STRATEGIES! Read twice, underline important parts, draw pictures, write equations, check work. Follow steps every time. Practice makes you a problem-solving expert!
💡 Think of strategies as your problem-solving superpowers - use them every time!
The 5-Step Method
1)Read 2)Identify numbers 3)Draw picture 4)Write equation 5)Solve & check. Follow these steps!
Slow Down!
Rushing causes mistakes! Take your time. Careful reading is more important than speed!
Use Tools
Counters, fingers, drawings, number lines - all help! Use tools to understand!
Practice Daily
The more word problems you solve, the better you get! Your brain builds problem-solving muscles!
Skipping steps to go faster! Following all steps leads to correct answers!
Test your problem-solving skills with practice challenges!
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