Math Problem Solving

Math problem solving is a skill that is difficult for many students to master. It takes practice, and students often get discouraged when they can't quickly find a solution to a problem. Math problem solving involves the heavy use of analytic reasoning and critical thinking skills. There are some basic standard techniques to use when solving math problems, but every problem is different and you must thoroughly analyze and understand the problem in order to solve it. Use the following tips to help you develop math problem solving skills.

Instructions

1. Make sure you understand the instructions for the problem. Many students don't read instructions carefully and end up giving a wrong answer to the problem simply because they didn't address what the problem asked for.

2. Read the problem carefully, absorbing the information as you go. Read the problem over several times if necessary so that you have a clear understanding of what the problem asks you to do. Look up the meaning of any terms you aren't familiar with. If the problem requires use of a formula that you don't remember, look it up also.

3. Represent the information by drawing a diagram or a sketch. This is a step students often skip because they don't realize how beneficial it can be in sorting out the information. If a diagram or sketch isn't applicable to the problem, make notes as you analyze the data.

4. Choose variables to represent all unknown quantities in the problem. For example, if the problem is about students selling tickets to an event you might let s = the number of students selling tickets and c = the cost of each ticket.

5. Use the variables you chose in step four and write equations or inequalities to accurately represent the data in the problem. This is usually the most difficult step for students, so don't be frustrated if you aren't able to do it on the first try. Keep reading through the problem and re-writing the equations or inequalities until you're confident that you've accurately described the situation in the problem.

6. Use properties of algebra to solve the equations or inequalities from step five. When you find a solution, check to see if it makes sense for the problem. For instance, if the problem asks you to find the cost of a pound of bananas and your solution is $496, you should suspect that you have made a mistake because that amount of money for one pound of bananas isn't realistic.