Math Tips: How to Do Word Problems

Math Tips: Tackling Word Problems

Best for Grades 4 - 9

If there’s one thing students like (or can at least tolerate) about math, it’s that it involves very little reading. This might be why word problems are almost universally hated. They seem much harder than other math problems because they require an extra layer of understanding, which is also what makes them so important to master. Word problems are the answer to “when I am ever going to need this in real life?”

In theory, word problems should provide examples of real world applications of math concepts. Problems about compound and simple interest, percentages, and averages are especially relevant.

Many of the problems in textbooks, though, are strange or completely unrelatable to an eighth-grader. The common person probably doesn’t need or want to figure out when two trains will collide or how tall a lighthouse is based on the shadow it casts when the sun is at a 45-degree angle, but until math textbooks get a major overhaul, we have to work with what we have.

Beyond their (hopefully) practical applications, word problems also help to develop analytical skills.

With a consistent strategy, word problems really aren’t so bad. I like to think of them as puzzles—all I have to do is put everything in the right place.

How do I do a Word Problem? Here are some key steps to get you started. These won’t be comprehensive for every word problem, but they make a strong strategy framework.

1. Read the problem carefully. Seems obvious, but it’s important.

2. Underline (or circle, or highlight etc.) all the questions and all the numbers you are working with.

3. Put the question in your own words. Make sure you understand what it is asking. If you don’t, it’s okay to re-read. It may help to write a sentence with a blank for the answer you are trying to find.

4. Now, look for keywords. These are words that indicate operations (addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication) like “more than” (addition), “three times as many” (multiplication), or more obvious ones like “divided by.”

5. Put it together. Write down all the information you know in a neat list.

- What are you answering?

- What operations do you need to do it?

- What numbers are you working with?

6. Write an equation. Chances are you’ll have just enough information to write an equation with one variable. But don’t forget to consider things like conversions.

7. Solve the equation! And don’t forget to include units (feet, miles, square inches, apples etc.)

Let’s do an example.

Your brother traveled 117 miles in 2.25 hours to come home for school break. What’s the average speed that he was traveling?

What will my answer look like? My brother traveled ____ miles per hour on average.
What operation do I need? Well we have miles traveled in an hour. That’s like miles per hour, which means division.
I know:
- ? miles per hour
- 117 miles
- 2.25 hours
- division
Equation: 117 ÷ 2.25 = X
Solve: X = 52 miles per hour

Maryann Aita 12/19/18 Maryann Aita 12/19/18

When to Hire a Tutor

There are a lot of reasons to consider a tutor for your student—from falling grades to test prep or academic enrichment—but before making the commitment, it’s important to define your student’s needs and goals.

How do I know when I should hire a tutor for my student?

Tutoring can boost confidence, build knowledge, and provide useful strategies for studying and test-taking, but it is not a substitute for the classroom.

Tutoring is an investment of both time and money. With the exception of things like test prep or high school and college admissions tutoring, it can be a long time before you see consistent student improvement.

Here are some common reasons parents hire tutors and some key considerations for each:

Standardized test prep. Test-prep tutoring is very common and is usually short-term, lasting only 2 – 3 months. Most standardized tests are more about strategy than subject-area knowledge, so tutoring (combined with student practice) can be very effective to increase test scores.

Students should take at least one, but ideally two or more practice tests before committing to a tutor. A diagnostic test will help you get the most from a test-prep tutor.

When to get at tutor: If practice test scores are a lot lower than you are hoping, or your student has test anxiety, a tutor can help to familiarize them with the test and provide strategic guidance.

When not to get a tutor: If you have a motivated student who is performing slightly below where they want to be, try out a Kaplan or Princeton Review test prep book. The easiest way to improve scores on standardized tests is practice!

Falling grades and academic performance. It’s very common for students excel in some subjects and struggle with others. Science and math are frequent challenges and writing skills may be impacting performance in multiple subjects.

If your student has started a new grade, a new school, or even just a new unit in one of their classes, their grades might suffer. Always talk to your student about their grades to make sure the problem is academic and not personal.

When to get a tutor: If a student has shown consistently poor performance in a subject area, a subject-specific tutor can be helpful to provide clarity and further explanation on topics learned in school. If they are struggling across areas, study skills tutors may be the best option.

When not to get a tutor: If a grade suddenly drops, it may be due to a change in what the class is studying. A single bad test is not an indication that your son or daughter needs academic support. Talk to them about why they are struggling. If your child is feeling anxious about starting a new school or other life change, there will be an adjustment period. A tutor probably won’t be able to help much with non-academic concerns.

Academic enrichment. For high-achieving students, an academic or skill coach may be the best option. Examples of this include: learning a language not taught at school, acting coaching, private chess lessons, or advanced subject tutors to design projects.

When to get a tutor: If a subject area is difficult to learn independently, like a musical instrument, a tutor would be a great bet. This is also a good option for students who need more structure to stay motivated.

When not to get a tutor: If your child tends to jump from hobby to hobby, you may to let them explore things independently so you don’t invest time and money in something they’ll lose interest in. Or, for very independent students, YouTube tutorials, books on the subject, and internet research may be enough.