Word Problems

Each section is subdivided into short sets of about 16 problems each, so as to make the whole project seem less overwhelming. You will begin with one or two sets of fairly simple nonword problems later sets focus on word problems dealing with real-world situations. 

The following section consists of 10 sets of miscellaneous math, including basic arithmetic questions and word problems with whole numbers. You will also see problems involving pre-algebra concepts such as negative numbers, exponents, and square roots (getting you ready for the algebra in Section 5). This section will provide a warm-up session before you move on to more difficult kinds of problems. 

You will start off with questions that just deal with numbers. After you ve had a chance to practice your basic fraction skills, you can move on to some word problems involving fractions. 

The 12 sets of basic geometry problems in this section involve lines, angles, triangles, rectangles, squares, and circles. For example, you may be asked to find the area or perimeter of a shape, the length of a line, or the circumference of a circle. In addition, the word problems will illustrate how closely geometry is related to the real world and to everyday life. 

Extract and write down just the pertinent information from the problem, especially the numbers and units—this is especially important for long word problems. 

It is just a few weeks, perhaps even just a few days, from now. You haven t begun to study. Perhaps you just haven t had the time. We are all faced with full schedules and many demands on our time, including work, family, and other obligations. Or perhaps you have had the time, but procrastinated topics in mathematics are topics that you would rather avoid at all costs. Computation and word problems have never been your strong suit. It is possible that you have waited until the last minute because you feel rather confident in your mathematical skills, and just want a quick refresher on the major topics. Maybe you just realized that your test included a mathematics section, and now you have only a short time to prepare. 

If any of these scenarios sound familiar, then Just in Time Math is the right book for you. Designed specifically for last-minute test preparation, Just in Time Math is a fast, accurate way to build your essential computational and word problem skills. This book includes nine chapters of common mathematical topics, with an additional chapter on study skills to make your time effective. In just ten short chapters, you will get the essentials—just in time for passing your big test. 

Chapter 10 Word Problems covers processes and strategies used to solve mathematics in context. 

Make connections. Try to relate what you are reading to things you already know or to a real world example. It might be helpful, for example, to make up a word problem, or draw a diagram or table, to clarify your understanding of what a problem is asking you to do. 

The procedure for cross-multiplication is straightforward and relatively easy. The challenge in solving word problems using ratios is in the set-up of the proportion. Take care to keep all terms in order. Remember that two ratios are being compared and that the order of the ratio set-up has meaning. 

When approaching a word problem involving ratios, in addition to a proper set-up, be clear on what the problem is asking for you to solve. Study the next example. 

The final chapter to review is math word problems. Word problems cover any of the topics in previous chapters. Word problems are daunting for many people. Follow the suggestions in this chapter to meet this math challenge and score high on your test. Before you begin, spend a few minutes to take this ten-question Benchmark Quiz. These questions are similar to the type of questions that you will find on important tests. When you are finished, check the answer key carefully to assess your results. Your Benchmark Quiz analysis will help you determine how much time you need to spend on word problems and the specific areas in which you need the most careful review and practice. 

How did you do on the word problems Benchmark Quiz Check your answers here, and then analyze your results to figure out your plan of attack to master this topic. Keep in mind that there are many ways to solve word... 

If you answered 1-3 questions correctly, you need to make a concentrated effort to practice word problems. Perhaps you become intimidated as soon as you encounter words in a math problem. Read this chapter carefully. There are many suggestions and approaches described to make solving word problems simpler. Practice is the key to success. Pay attention to all tips, rules, and shortcuts and visit the suggested websites for further practice. You may want to refer to Practical Math Success in 2 0 Minutes a Day, published by LearningExpress, which has two Lessons, 15 and 16, devoted to word problems. 

Word problems are the most challenging type of math problems because they involve both computation proficiency and an understanding of how the language translates into math. Word problems encompass all topics in math. Some of the examples in previous chapters were word problems. There are two main challenges when dealing with word problems ... 

This chapter will focus on methods to use when faced with a word problem. Topics in this chapter include ... 

When approaching a word problem, you must be willing to read the problem several times. Read once to get the general idea and topics. Read again, and attempt to separate the problem into chunks, making notes as you read. Cross out any unnecessary information. Be clear on the goal—what is being asked for in the problem. Do not lose focus on the end result. 

Throughout the course of this book, we have looked at many word problems. Several problems involving distance and speed, percents, simple interest, and ratio and proportions have been reviewed. One other type of word problem not reviewed previously is consecutive integer problems. These problems are relatively easy to solve on multiple-choice tests. 

Currently, he is a special education teacher for the Juvenile Detention Facility in Mesa, Arizona. For many years, he has been creating math word problems, story starters, games, and other materials, to help motivate his own students. 

JWJi ath word problems (or story problems, depending on where and when M W Byou went to school). What topic has caused more hair to be pulled from tender heads, more tears and anguish, and, at the same time, more feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment When 1 told friends that I was writing this book, their responses were varied, but none was mild or without a strong opinion one way or the other. Oh, the stories (pardon the pun) I heard. And, lucky you, I ve taken some of the accounts and incorporated the better stories in this book. Everyone has his favorite word problem, most of them starting with, If Jim is twice as old as Ted was. ... 

The different types of word problems are divided into categories, in case you re only looking for help with age problems or in case you re only interested in interest problems. Most of the examples have a firm basis in reality, but a few are off the wall, just because you need to have a good sense of humor when dealing with math word problems. 

For the most part, when I use a specific math word or expression, I define it right then and there. For example, if you read a math word problem about a regular hexagon, you immediately find the definition of regular (all sides and all angles are the same measure), so you don t have to hunt around to understand what s being asked. 

The math word problems in this book span some basic problems (using arithmetic) to the more complex (requiring algebraic skills). Even though I like to make example problems come out with whole-number answers, sometimes... 

The four chapters in this part contain general plans of attack — how you approach a word problem and what you do with all those words. I introduce the basic vocabulary of math in word problems, and I outline the steps you use for solving any kind of word problem. You see how to work your way through the various units linear, area, volume, rate. And finally, I use a grand example of handling a math word problem to demonstrate the various techniques you use to solve the rest of the problems in the book. 

The main emphasis of the chapters in this part is on using the correct operations and formulas. You get to use probability and proportions, money and mixtures, formulas and figuring. One of the first hurdles to overcome when doing math word problems is choosing the correct process, operation, or rule. Money plays a big part in these chapters — as it plays a big part in most people s lives. 

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