Problem Solving Strategies

in

Mathematics

(With Sample Worksheets)

(Grades2-5)

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Types of Errors Commonly Made By Students in Solving Statement

Problems/Sums

1) Reading -Do not recognize key words or symbols.

2) Comprehension -Can read the problems well but cannot comprehend the

meaning of the words, symbols or question.

3) Transformation-Cannot transform sentences into mathematical forms.

4) Processing skills-Can choose an appropriate operation but cannot complete

the operation accurately.

5) Encoding ability -Can perform the correct operations but writes the answer

incorrectly.

6) Careless mistakes -Mistakes made which can be caught automatically upon

reviewing your work.

Strategies used are :

a) Critical reading of the problem sum

b) Question Answer Relationship (QAR)

c) Guided/scaffolded worksheet/hint cards

d) Visualization

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A. Question Answer Relationship (QAR)

Objective:

Reading and writing in math

How to critically read a problem sum and find the key word to identify

the operation.

Problem sum:

1) There are 386 mangoes on a tree. One day during

a storm, 124 mangoes fell down. How many

mangoes are left on the tree?

What type of tree was it?

What was growing on it?

How many mangoes were growing

on it?

What happened on day?

What happens during a storm?

So, what happened to the mangoes?

How many mangoes fell down?

After the storm will the number of

mangoes on the tree be less or more?

Which word in the problem statement

gave you this hint?

So what operation will you perform?

What sign will you use?

What number will you write first?

Why will you write that number first?

What number will you write below

it?

Why will you write it below the first

number?

Do the sum.

Draw a picture also.

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How to write a problem statement

a)What statement will you write first? ________________________________

b) What is the second statement? ___________________________________

c)What is the third statement? ________________________________

d) What will be your final statement? ________________________

2) A tank contained 100 l 750 ml of

water.40 l 630 ml was used for

household work. Find the quantity of

water left in the tank?

Instructions: Write all the questions and

answers will you ask yourself to solve

the problem. Then show the calculations.

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

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B. Visualization

1) Complete the number line of the metric system. Show the relationship

between the units by putting the arrow signs and the correct

multiplication/division symbol.

Conversion Rule

Big to small-Multiplication: B>S>M

Small to Big-Division: S>B>D

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2) Mamta’s bag weighed 3kg 750g and Sushma’s bag weighed 2kg 440g.

Find the weight of both the bags together.

What is given in the question?

____________________________________

What do you have to do?

____________________________________

What operation will you perform?

____________________________________

In what units is the measurement?

____________________________________

What is the relationship of the units?

____________________________________

Keeping the decimal in mind how will you write 3kg 750g?

____________________________________

Can you depict the problem as a drawing?

____________________________________

Perform the calculation.

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3) John has a pet spider and a pet rabbit. The spider is 10 mm long and the

rabbit is 35 cm long. How much longer is the rabbit than the spider?

Draw and solve the problem. Write the correct statements and solve the

problem.

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4) There are 8 kg 250g of apples in a carton.5 kg 825 g

of the apples were rotten.

What is the weight of the good apples?

Instructions: Write questions and answers will you ask

yourself to solve the problem. You can also draw a

diagram for help. Then show the calculations.

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

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C. Guided/ scaffolded worksheet

Hint cards for doing the sums.

1. Problem Sum:

Problem What

do you

have to

do?

What

word

gave the

hint?

What

operations

do you

have to

do?

What is the

conversion

rule?

Do the calculation What

unit

will

you

write?

Express

18 km as

meters

Change

km to

m

Express,

km, m

I have to

convert

km into m

B>S>M

1 km

=1000m

multiplication

1 km =1000m

8 km =8x1000

=8000 m

M

Problem What

do you

have to

do?

What

word

gave the

hint?

What

operations

do you have

to do?

What is the

conversion rule?

Do the calculation What

unit

will I

write?

Express

18 km as

meters

Change

km to

m

Express,

km, m

a) I have to

convert

km into

m

B>S>M

1 km =1000m

multiplication

1 km =1000m

8 km =8x1000 =8000 m

m

Express

as meters.

b) 62 62km 305

m

Change

km to

m

Express,

km, m

a) I have to

convert

km into

m

b) Add the

meters

already

given in

the

question

B>S>M

multiplication

1 km =1000m

Addition

a) 1 km =1000m

62 km =62 x 1000

=62,000 m

b) 62,000

+ 305

62,305 m

m

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Change

2m 5dm

6cm into

cm

Change

m, dm

into cm

Change

m, dm,

cm

a) I have to

convert

m into

dm

b) Add the

dm to the

dm

already

in the

question

c) Change

the dm

into cm

d) Add the

cm I got

to cm in

the

question

B>S>M

a) Multiplication

b) Addition

c) Multiplication

d) Addition

1m =10 dm

2m= 20dm

20dm +5 dm =25 dm

1 dm =10cm

25dm =25 x10= 250 cm

250cm + 6cm = 256 cm

cm

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1) Express

as

decimal

What do

you have to

do?

What

rule will

you

apply?

What

operation/s

will you do?

With

what

will you

divide?

How

many

jumps?

How many

places will the

decimal

move?

Perform

the

operation

What

unit will

you

write

A. 720

mm in

cm

Convert

smaller

unit to

larger

SBD

Divide

10

One place

to the left

1 place to the

left.

720 ÷ 10=

72 cm

cm

B. 861 cl

in l

C. 2541

mm in

m

D. 3205 g

in kg

E. 20cm

8mm in

cm

Conversion Rule

Big to small-Multiplication: B>S>M

Small to Big-Division: S>B>D

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