4 Steps in Solving Problems

Miacademy Learning Channel
20 Apr 201703:49

TLDRThis video tutorial outlines a four-step approach to solving math word problems: understanding the problem, making a plan, carrying out the plan, and checking the answer. It emphasizes the importance of comprehending the problem thoroughly before attempting a solution and suggests using strategies such as looking for clues and keywords. The video encourages persistence, advising viewers to reread the problem and reassess their understanding if they encounter difficulties. It also highlights the value of checking one's work to ensure accuracy and reasonableness of the solution.

Takeaways

  • 📚 Understand the problem thoroughly before attempting to solve it.
  • 🔍 Read the word problem carefully, looking for key words and important numbers.
  • 🖊 Highlight or underline crucial information to aid in comprehension.
  • 🧠 Reread the problem multiple times to ensure complete understanding.
  • 📈 Choose an appropriate problem-solving strategy for the type of math word problem.
  • 🔱 Consider whether addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, or a combination is needed to solve the problem.
  • 📝 Use a notebook or scrap paper for calculations; it's okay to make mistakes and start over.
  • 🔄 If stuck, reread the problem to ensure you're on the right track.
  • ✅ Always check your answer to ensure it is reasonable and makes sense within the context of the problem.
  • 🔄 If the answer doesn't make sense, revisit the problem to correct any misunderstandings or calculation errors.

Q & A

  • What are the four main steps in solving a math word problem according to the video?

    -The four main steps are: 1. Understand the problem, 2. Make a plan, 3. Carry out the plan, and 4. Check your answer.

  • Why is it important to read a word problem carefully before attempting to solve it?

    -Reading a word problem carefully is important because if you start working on a problem without fully understanding it, you may get frustrated and want to give up.

  • What should you do to understand a word problem better?

    -To understand a word problem better, read it carefully once, then read it again looking for important clues like key words and numbers, and underline or highlight important information.

  • How many times should you read a word problem to ensure you fully understand it?

    -You should read a word problem at least three times to ensure you fully understand it.

  • What is the first step in making a plan to solve a math word problem?

    -The first step in making a plan is to choose an appropriate problem-solving strategy.

  • Where can you learn about problem-solving strategies as mentioned in the video?

    -You can learn about problem-solving strategies from the videos labeled 'Problem Solving Strategies' on the site.

  • What should you do if you get stuck while carrying out your plan to solve the problem?

    -If you get stuck, go back and reread the problem to ensure you've understood it correctly and check your calculations.

  • How do you check if your answer to a word problem is reasonable?

    -To check if your answer is reasonable, go back to the problem and see if your answer makes sense and is logical within the context of the problem.

  • What should you do if your answer does not seem reasonable after checking?

    -If your answer does not seem reasonable, go back to step 1 and ensure you've understood the problem correctly, then check your calculations.

  • What is the advice given in the video for solving math word problems?

    -The advice given is to keep solving math word problems with fun online games and quizzes, and always remember to be clever.

  • Why might highlighting important information in a word problem be helpful?

    -Highlighting important information can help you focus on the key details needed to solve the problem and prevent overlooking crucial data.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Math Word Problem Solving

This paragraph introduces the viewer to a video tutorial on solving math word problems. It outlines four main steps: understanding the problem, making a plan, carrying out the plan, and checking the answer. The importance of fully understanding the problem before attempting to solve it is emphasized, along with the suggestion to look for key words and numbers. An example word problem involving the ages of Alex, Max, Josie, and Suzie is provided to illustrate the process.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Problem Solving

Problem solving refers to the process of finding solutions to problems. In the context of the video, it specifically addresses the steps one should follow to solve math word problems. The video emphasizes the importance of understanding the problem, planning, executing the plan, and checking the answer, which are all part of the problem-solving process. This is central to the video's theme as it provides a structured approach to tackling math word problems.

💡Understand the problem

Understanding the problem is the first step in the problem-solving process outlined in the video. It involves reading the word problem carefully to grasp what is being asked. The video suggests reading the problem multiple times and highlighting key information to ensure full comprehension before attempting to solve it. This step is crucial because a clear understanding of the problem is necessary to formulate an effective plan to solve it.

💡Make a plan

Making a plan is the second step in solving math word problems. After understanding the problem, the video advises choosing a problem-solving strategy and determining what mathematical operations—addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, or a combination—are needed to find the solution. This step is about strategizing and preparing to tackle the problem methodically.

💡Carry out the plan

Carry out the plan is the third step, where the actual solving of the problem takes place. The video encourages using a notebook or scrap paper to work through the problem, even if it involves making mistakes and starting over. This step is about applying the chosen strategy and performing the necessary calculations to reach a solution.

💡Check your answer

Checking your answer is the final step in the problem-solving process. After obtaining a solution, the video recommends revisiting the problem to ensure the answer is logical and reasonable. If the answer does not make sense, the video advises going back to the first step to reassess understanding of the problem. This step is essential for verifying the accuracy of the solution and ensuring the problem has been correctly solved.

💡Key words

Key words are the important terms or phrases that provide clues to understanding the problem. The video instructs viewers to look for these in the word problem, as they often indicate what mathematical operations are needed to solve it. For example, words like 'younger' or 'older' might suggest subtraction, while 'twice as much' might indicate multiplication.

💡Important numbers

Important numbers are the numerical values mentioned in the word problem that are essential for solving it. The video stresses the importance of identifying these numbers and using them correctly in the calculations. For instance, in the example provided, the numbers '8' and '1' are important for determining the ages of the individuals involved in the problem.

💡Problem Solving Strategies

Problem Solving Strategies are the various methods or techniques one can use to approach and solve a problem. The video mentions that there are several strategies available and encourages viewers to explore them through additional resources, such as other videos on the site. These strategies can help in deciding how to tackle a problem effectively.

💡Reasonable

In the context of the video, 'reasonable' refers to an answer that makes sense given the information provided in the problem. When checking an answer, it should be assessed to ensure it is logical and fits the context of the word problem. For example, if a problem asks for the age of a person and the answer is a negative number, it would be considered unreasonable.

💡Go back

The phrase 'go back' is used in the video to indicate the need to revisit previous steps in the problem-solving process if the answer obtained is not reasonable or if there is a doubt about the understanding of the problem. This could mean rereading the problem, reconsidering the chosen strategy, or reevaluating the calculations.

💡Clever

Clever, in the context of the video, implies using intelligence and resourcefulness to solve problems. The video encourages viewers to be clever in their approach to problem-solving, suggesting that with the right strategies and persistence, one can effectively solve math word problems.

Highlights

Learn the 4 main steps to solving math word problems.

Understand the problem before attempting to solve it.

Read the word problem carefully to identify key words and numbers.

Underline or highlight important information in the problem.

Reread the problem to ensure full understanding.

Choose a problem-solving strategy after understanding the problem.

Watch 'Problem Solving Strategies' videos for different strategies.

Determine if addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, or a combination is needed.

Use 'Look for Clues and Key Words' strategy to know which operations to use.

Work out the word problem using a notebook or scrap paper.

It's okay to make mistakes and start over during problem-solving.

Reread the problem if you get stuck while carrying out the plan.

Check your answer to ensure it makes sense and is reasonable.

If the answer is not reasonable, revisit the problem to ensure correct understanding.

Remember the 4 strategies to solve math word problems.

Pause the video to write down the steps for future reference.

Practice solving math word problems with online games and quizzes.

Always approach problem-solving with cleverness and persistence.