4 Ways to Succeed With Story Problems

4 Ways to Succeed With Story Problems

Many students are afraid of story problems, yet they can be easy if the following steps are used to break them down.

1) Read the problem thoroughly. It's easy to miss steps the first time you read the problem, so read carefully and don't skip ahead. There is often a final step at the end of the problem that can be overlooked if you don't read the entire problem.

2) Use paper to diagram the problem. Make a simple drawing to help visualize the scene. Sketch stick figures or other simple drawings to illustrate the setting in the problem.

3) Write out the equation step by step. Use math functions to figure out what is being asked. "More than" would be addition, for example.

4) Read the problem over again to be sure you didn't miss anything. Be sure to label your results. Don't just write "50," write "50 miles per hour."

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