UNRAAVEL a Math ProblemSure-Fire Steps to Becoming a Math Genius!

UNRAAVEL Strategy presented by Larry I. Bell.

Sometimes it can be difficultto figure out what to do when

you are faced with a word problem.

Even Albert Einstein said:

“Do not worry about your difficulties in Mathematics. I can assure you mine are still

greater.”

U = Underline the questionFind the question and Find the question and

Underline it!Underline it!The bungee chord stretched 150% of its original length during the first

drop. If the chord is 160 feet in length, what distance did the chord

stretch during the initial descent?The Saints scored three less than double the points scored by the Colts. If the Colts scored 17 points, how many points did the Saints score?

Period 1

U = Underline the questionFind the question and Find the question and

Underline it!Underline it!The bungee chord stretched 150% of its original length during the first

drop. If the chord is 160 feet in length, what distance did the chord

stretch during the initial descent?The Saints scored three less than double the points scored by the Colts. If the Colts scored 17 points, how many points did the Saints score?

Period 1 - ANSWERS

N = Now Predict Do you think the answer will be larger or

smaller? Do you think you will need to add, subtract, multiply, or divide? Are there any hints that you may need to estimate?

The bungee chord stretched 150% of its original length during the first

drop. If the chord is 160 feet in length, what distance did the chord

stretch during the initial descent?The Saints scored three less than double the points scored by the Colts. If the Colts scored 17 points, how many points did the Saints score?

Period 2

Larger or smaller than 17?

Add, subtract, multiply and/or divide?

Larger or smaller than

160?

Add, subtract, multiply and/or

divide?

N = Now Predict Do you think the answer will be larger or

smaller? Do you think you will need to add, subtract, multiply, or divide? Are there any hints that you may need to estimate?

The bungee chord stretched 150% of its original length during the first

drop. If the chord is 160 feet in length, what distance did the chord

stretch during the initial descent?The Saints scored three less than double the points scored by the Colts. If the Colts scored 17 points, how many points did the Saints score?

Period 2 ANSWERS

Larger or smaller than 17?

Add, subtract, multiply and/or divide?

Larger or smaller than

160?

Add, subtract, multiply and/or

divide?

“of” indicates muliplication

R = Read the Word Problem A = Are there important words?

The bungee chord stretched 150% of its original length during the first

drop. If the chord is 160 feet in length, what distance did the chord

stretch during the initial descent?The Saints scored three less than double the points scored by the Colts. If the Colts scored 17 points, how many points did the Saints score?

Period 3

R = Read the Word Problem A = Are there important words?

The bungee chord stretched 150% of its original length during the first

drop. If the chord is 160 feet in length, what distance did the chord

stretch during the initial descent?The Saints scored three less than double the points scored by the Colts. If the Colts scored 17 points, how many points did the Saints score?

Period 3

V = Verify Your Answer. (Is it reasonable? Does it Make Sense?)

A = Apply the Steps You Chose to Solve the Problem

What would you estimate for a

score?

Period 4

The bungee chord stretched 150% of its original length during the first

drop. If the chord is 160 feet in length, what distance did the chord

stretch during the initial descent?

The Saints scored three less than double the points scored by the Colts. If the Colts scored 17 points, how many points did the Saints score?

What is your estimate of the stretched rope?

V = Verify Your Answer. (Is it reasonable? Does it Make Sense?)

A = Apply the Steps You Chose to Solve the Problem

Period 4 ANSWERS

The bungee chord stretched 150% of its original length during the first

drop. If the chord is 160 feet in length, what distance did the chord

stretch during the initial descent?

The Saints scored three less than double the points scored by the Colts. If the Colts scored 17 points, how many points did the Saints score?

S = Saints’ score

C = Colts’ score

S = 2C – 3 for C = 17

S = 2(17) – 3 = 31 points

C = Chord Length

S = Stretched Length

S = 150% x C

S = 1.5 x 160

S = 240 feet

E = Eliminate Wrong Answers.

The bungee chord stretched 150% of its original length during the first

drop. If the chord is 160 feet in length, what distance did the chord

stretch during the initial descent?

The Saints scored three less than double the points scored by the Colts. If the Colts scored 17 points, how many points did the Saints score?

a. 17

b. 13

c. 37

d. 31

Period 5

a.80

b.160

c.240

d.320

E = Eliminate Wrong Answers.

The bungee chord stretched 150% of its original length during the first

drop. If the chord is 160 feet in length, what distance did the chord

stretch during the initial descent?

The Saints scored three less than double the points scored by the Colts. If the Colts scored 17 points, how many points did the Saints score?

a. 17

b. 13

c. 37

d. 31

Period 5 ANSWERS

a.80

b.160

c.240

d.320

Too low

Too low

Too high

Too high

Too low

Too low

L = Let the Answer Stay or Rework

the Problem

The bungee chord stretched 150% of its original length during the first

drop. If the chord is 160 feet in length, what distance did the chord

stretch during the initial descent?

Period 6

The Saints scored three less than double the points scored by the Colts. If the Colts scored 17 points, how many points did the Saints score?

a. 17

b. 13

c. 37

d. 31

Is the answer reasonable? Why or why not?

a.80

b.160

c.240

d.320

Is the answer reasonable? Why or why not?

L = Let the Answer Stay or Rework

the Problem

The bungee chord stretched 150% of its original length during the first

drop. If the chord is 160 feet in length, what distance did the chord

stretch during the initial descent?

Period 6 ANSWERS

The Saints scored three less than double the points scored by the Colts. If the Colts scored 17 points, how many points did the Saints score?

a. 17

b. 13

c. 37

d. 31

Is the answer reasonable? Why or why not?

a.80

b.160

c.240

d.320

Is the answer reasonable? Why or why not?