Mr.

Cruz
Problem Solving

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills

(1) Mathematical process standards. The student uses
mathematical processes to acquire and demonstrate mathematical
understanding. The student is expected to:
(A) apply mathematics to problems arising in everyday life,
society, and the workplace;
(B)use a problem-solving model that incorporates analyzing given
information, formulating a plan or strategy, determining a
solution, justifying the solution, and evaluating the problemsolving process and the reasonableness of the solution;
(D) communicate mathematical ideas, reasoning, and their
implications using multiple representations, including symbols,
diagrams, graphs, and language as appropriate;

A rubber ball rebounds to half the height it drops. If

the ball is dropped from a rooftop 18 m above the
ground, what is the total distance traveled by the
time it hits the ground the third time?

a. 31.5 m
b. 40.5 m
c. 45 m
d. 63 m

What information can we use from

the word problem that can help us
figure out the total distance?
The ball dropped from a roof top 18m above the
ground
The ball will rebound (bounce) half the height it
dropped
The ball will hit the ground three times

When the ball drops from the roof top the first
time how long will it drop?

Ball will drop 18m the first

time

Ball will drop 18m

the first time

Ball will go
back up 9m
Then the ball will
drop back down
9m

To find out what half of 18 we need to divide

18 by 2

The ball will hit the ground a

second time and go up only half
the height it dropped

Droppe
d 9m
2dn time it
hits the
ground

Up 4.5
Down
4.5
3rd time it
hits the
ground

To get half the distance of 9 we

divide 9 by 2

So far this is all we

know

The ball will

drop 18m
the first
time

Up
9m
Up
4.5m
Down
9m
Ball hits the ground
the fist time

Ball hits the

ground a second
time

Down
4.5m
Ball hits the
Ground third
time

A rubber ball rebounds to half the height it

drops. If the ball is dropped from a rooftop 18
m above the ground, what is the total distance
traveled by the time it hits the ground the third
time?
To find out half the distance of 18 you divide by 2

18/2=9
Divide 9 by 2 to get half the distance of 9
9/2=4.5
To find out the total distance we need to add
18
+ 9
+ 9
+ 4.5
+ 4.5
= 45