1.

Understanding the Problem

2. Devise a Plan
3. Carry out the plan.
4. Review the solution
Problem
Sally was having a party. She
invited 20 women and 15 men. She
made 1 dozen blue cupcakes and 3
dozen red cupcakes. At the end of
the party there were only 5
cupcakes left. How many cupcakes
were eaten?
1. Understand the Problem.
Some ways to tell if you really understand what is
being asked is to:
State the problem in your own words.
Pinpoint exactly what is being asked.
Identify the unknowns.
Figure out what the problem tells you is important.
Identify any information that is irrelevant to the
problem
2. Devise a Plan
Look for a pattern.
Review similar problems.
Make a table, diagram or chart.
Write an equation.
Use guessing and checking.
Work backwards.
Identify a sub-goal.
3. Carry Out the Plan
The third step in the process is the next
logical step: Carry Out the Plan. When you
carry out the plan, you should keep a record
of your steps as you implement your strategy
from step 2.
 1x12 = 12
 3 x 12 = 36
12+36-5 = 43
12+36 = 48
 48 - 5 = 43
4. Review the solution

To check our solution , we start with 43

cupcakes eaten and proceed through the
original problem . Since there were 5 cakes
left, the original number of cakes baked is
48.
To Check:
43 + 5 = 48