SOLUTIONS TO DREADED WORD PROBLEMS AND SOME HELPFUL STRATEGIES

WORD PROBLEMS ARE LITTLE STORIES WITH OFTEN CONFUSING FACTS

THE SECRET to solving word problems is:

STEP 1. Sort out the relevant facts

STEP 2: Convert the facts into mathematical expressions

STEP 3. Solve the expressions

STEP 4. Reduce the results to their lowest terms

WORD PROBLEM: KRIS & JAN WENT SHOPPING

At the store KRIS bought a TV for 350.99 (dollars). Jan looked at all the televisions in the store and decided to buy a watch instead, but after careful though Jan wanted a bigger TV. Jan chose a TV that cost 25% more than Kris's TV. Kris saw Jan looking at the watches and decided to buy a watch that cost 237.95 dollars less than Kris's TV.

Q.   How much did Kris spend?

Q.   How much did Jan spend?

A.   ANSWER Kris spent: $464.03

A.   ANSWER: Jan spent: $438.74

                            The SOLUTION
                            ________________

    let K = Kris:
    let J = Jan:
    let TV = TV;
    let W = Watch:
    _______________

    (K) TV = $350.99
    (K) W  = 350.99 - 237.95 = $113.04
    (J) TV = 350.99 x 125%   ≈ $438.74
    _______________

    (K) Spent 350.99 + 113.04 = $464.03
    (J) Spent  350.99 x 1.25 (125%) = $438.74

    NOTE: (1.00 x 1.25) 1.25 or 125%