MATH WORD PROBLEM
By: Jonaire M. Maputol
Topics:
1. Part-Part-Whole
2. Join and separate
3. Multiplication Division
4. Solving math word problem
Part-Part-Whole Multiplication and Division
• Understanding that a whole quantity can
be broken into sets and that parts can be
combined to make a whole may seem like • Use multiplication when you have
common sense, but young learners must multiple sets of a given quantity.
master this concept before moving on to
formal addition and subtraction
operations.
Join And Separate • A division problem is used when a
• Basic word problems pose questions that quantity must be divided or split.
can be solved with addition and
subtraction. You can identify addition, or
"join" problems, with clue words such as
plus, altogether, combined and total.
What is a word problem? And how to solve them?
• Learn what word problems are and how to solve
A word problem is a few sentences them in 7 easy steps.
describing a 'real-life' scenario where a
• In real life, math problems don’t usually present
problem needs to be solved by way of
a mathematical calculation. themselves as 3 + 5. Instead, things are usually a bit
more complex. To show this, sometimes, math
Word problems are seen as a crucial curriculum creators use word problems to help
part of learning in the primary students see what happens in the real world.
curriculum, because they require • Word problems often show math happening in a more
students to apply their knowledge of natural way in the real world. You’ve probably
various different concepts to 'real-life' solved a few word problems in your day! Here are
scenarios.
some examples.
Solving Word Problems in Mathematics
• To work through any word problem, • 4. Determine the Operation(s):
students should follow these steps. -Next, the student should determine the
operation or operations they need to perform. Is it
• 1. Read the Problems: First, students should addition, subtraction, multiplication, division?
read through the problem once. What needs to happen? Drawing the picture
should be a big help in figuring this out. However,
• they can look for clues in the words such as:
2. Highlight Facts: Then, the student should
read through the problem again and highlight or
underline important facts such as numbers or – Addition: add, brought, total, altogether, and,
words that indicate an operation. plus, combine, more, in all
• – Subtraction: fewer, than, take away, subtract,
3. Draw a Picture: Drawing a picture can left
sometimes help students visualize the problem – Multiplication: times, twice, triple, in all, total
more clearly. It can also help students clarify the – Division: each, equal pieces, split, per, out of,
operations they need to carry out. (next step!) average
• 5. Make a Math Sentence: • 7. Check Your Answer:
-Next, students should try to -Finally, students should check
translate the word problem and drawings their work to make sure that the answer
into a math or number sentence. This means is correct.
students might write a sentence such as 3 +
8= • With these 7 steps, solving word
• 6. Solve the Problem: problems in mathematics becomes as
easy as pie! Of course, students also
-Then, students can solve the need plenty of practice. So, make sure
number sentence and determine the your students get plenty of chances to
solution. For example, 3 + 8 = 11.
practice their word problem-solving
skills!
