Example of questions involving problem solving: Strategy Solution

Seth and Bob each began reading a Hardy Boys book today. If Seth reads 8 pages each day and Bob reads 5 pages each day, what page will Bob be reading when Seth is reading page 56? (Hint: Complete the table.) Day 1 2 3 Understanding the Problem How many pages does Seth read each day? (8) Bob? (5) Did they start reading their books on the same day? (yes) Planning a Solution .How many pages had Seth read at the end of the first day? (8) Bob? (5) When Seth has read 16 pages, how many pages will Bob have read?(10) Find the number of pages Seth read for the first 5 days. (8, 16, 24, 32, 40) Finding the Answer Make a Table Day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Seth's Page 8 16 24 32 40 48 56 Bob's Page 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 Seth's Bob's Page Page 8 16 24 5 10 15

a. Make a table

Bob will be reading page 35 when Seth is reading page 56.

b. Make an Organized List

Ryan numbered his miniature race car collection according to the following rules: 1. It has to be a 3-digit number. 2. The digit in the hundreds place is less than 3. 3. The digit in the tens place is greater than 7. 4. The digit in the ones place is odd. If Ryan used every possibility and each car had a different number, how many cars did Ryan have in his collection? (Hint: Make an organized list.) Understanding the Problem How many digits are there in the numbers? (3) What digits could be in the hundreds place? (1 or 2) Fens place? (8 or 9) Ones place? (1, 3, 5, 7, or 9) Planning a Solution If 1 is in the hundreds place, what digits could be in the tens place? (8 or 9) Ones place? (1, 3, 5, 7, or 9) What are the possible numbers having a 1 in the hundreds place and an 8 in the lens place? (181, 183, 185, 187, and 189) Are there are any other numbers you can use in the hundreds place if you leave the 8 in the tens place and the odd numbers in the ones place? (yes, a 2) What are the numbers? (281, 283, 285, 287, and 289) What other digit can be used in the tens place? (9) Finding the Answer Make an Organized List 181 183 281 283 191 193 291 293

185 187 189

285 287 289

195 197 199

295 297 299

Ryan had 20 cars in his collection.

c. Look for a pattern

A man was very overweight and his doctor told him to lose 36 kg. If he loses 11 kg the first week, 9 kg the second week, and 7 kg the third week, and he continues losing at this rate, how long will it take him to lose 36 kg? (Hint: Look for a pattern. Then complete the table. Total Kilograms Lost 11 11 + 9 = 20 20 + 7 = 27 27 + 5 = 32 32 + 3 = 35

Week

1 2 3 4 5

Understanding the Problem How much does the man need to lose? (36 kg) How much did he lose the first week? (11 kg) How much did he lose the second week? (9 kg) How much did he lose the third week? (7 kg) Planning a Solution How much less does he lose the second week than the first week? (2 kg) How much less does he lose the third week than the secornd? (2 kg)

Finding the Answer Make a Table/Look for a Pattern

Week

Total Kilograms Lost

11

11 + 9 = 20

20 + 7 = 27

27 + 5 = 32

32 + 3 = 35

35 + 1 = 36

Pattern: The number of kilograms lost decreases by 2 each week. It will take the man 6 weeks to lose 36 kg.