Step #

Step Description

1

Read the problem. Read the problem as you would read a story to get an overview of the situation.  Try to picture it in your mind.

2

If possible, draw a picture to represent the word problem.

3

Read the problem again.  This time focus on the question or instruction sentence (many times this is the last sentence).  Ask yourself, “What are they asking me to find?”

4

Determine if a chart would help you organize the information given.  Charts can be useful for the following types of problems: Age, Distance, Work, and Mixture problems.

5

Read the problem and determine what information is relevant to the problem and if there is any information that is a not relevant (a distracter).

6

Fill in the chart (if used), or see how the information is related, and what is missing.

7

Read the problem to check this information.

8

Write the equation necessary to solve the problem.

9

Read the problem to check your equation.

10

Solve the equation.

11

Read the problem to make sure that the solution to your equation answered the question or found the answer in step #3.

12

If all else fails, follow the advice of the first three words of all the odd numbered steps above.