ProblemUsing 20 cubes, make four piles so that the first pile contains 4 more cubes than the second pile, the second pile contains 1 cube less than the third pile, and the fourth pile contains twice as many cubes as the second pile.

How many cubes are in each pile?

CLARIFY

• To make clear, to remove misconceptions.

• You must answer the following questions to show an understanding of the problem.

What am I told? What am I trying to find out? Can I say it in my own words?

Using 20 cubes, make four piles so that the first pile contains 4 more cubes than the second pile, the second pile contains 1 cube less than the third pile, and the fourth pile contains twice as many cubes as the

second pile.

How many cubes are in each pile?

• What am I told?

• What am I trying to find out?

• Can I say it in my own words?

• Solve the problem. What strategy is best?

What am I told?

• 20 cubes

• 4 piles

• First pile, 4 more than second

• Second pile, one less than third

• Fourth has twice as many as second

What am I trying to find out?

• How many cubes are in each pile so that the total number of cubes used is 20.

Solve the problem Strategy: Guess, Check and Refine

Pile 1 Pile 2 Pile 3 Pile 4 Total

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

-3

0

1 2 2 10

2 3 4 15

3 4 206

Write your answer in a sentence

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501

Write your answer in a sentence

If I use 20 blocks, the first pile has 7 blocks, the second pile has 3 blocks, the third pile has 4 blocks and the four pile has 6 blocks.