Taking the Words Out of Word Problems

How to turn word problems into math problemsPart 3: Multiplication & Division

The Steps

Read the entire problem first.

Identify the people in the problem.

Identify their stuff

Draw unit bars

Read the problem again, one bit at a time, and label the unit bars.

Determine the question and illustrate it on the unit bar

Compute the problem

Write the answer as a complete sentence

First, a multiplication problem.

Tyrone had 5 letters to mail. He put 2 stamps on each letter. How many stamps did he use?

Tyrone had 5 letters to mail. He put 2 stamps on each letter. How many stamps did he use?

Read the entire problem first.Identify the people in the problem.Identify their stuff

Tyrone’s Stamps

Tyrone had 5 letters to mail. He put 2 stamps on each letter. How many stamps did he use?

Draw unit bars

Tyrone’s Stamps

Tyrone had 5 letters to mail. He put 2 stamps on each letter. How many stamps did he use?

Label the unit bars.

Tyrone’s Stamps 2 2 2 2 2

Tyrone had 5 letters to mail. He put 2 stamps on each letter. How many stamps did he use?

Illustrate the question

Tyrone’s Stamps 2 2 2 2 2 ?

Tyrone had 5 letters to mail. He put 2 stamps on each letter. How many stamps did he use?

Compute the problem

Tyrone’s Stamps 2 2 2 2 2 ?

5 • 2 = 10

Tyrone had 5 letters to mail. He put 2 stamps on each letter. How many stamps did he use?

5 • 2 = 10

Tyrone used 10 stamps

Tyrone’s Stamps 2 2 2 2 2 ?

Write the answer as a complete sentence

Now, a division problem. This should look really similar.

Ms Jefferson divided a batch of 24 cookies evenly for her 4 grandchildren. How many cookies did each of them get?

Ms Jefferson’s cookies

Read the entire problem first.Identify the people in the problem.Identify their stuff

Ms Jefferson divided a batch of 24 cookies evenly for her 4 grandchildren. How many cookies did each of them get?

Ms Jefferson’s cookies

Draw unit bars

Ms Jefferson divided a batch of 24 cookies evenly for her 4 grandchildren. How many cookies did each of them get?

Ms Jefferson’s cookies 24

Label the unit bars.

Ms Jefferson divided a batch of 24 cookies evenly for her 4 grandchildren. How many cookies did each of them get?

Ms Jefferson’s cookies 24

Illustrate the question

?

Ms Jefferson divided a batch of 24 cookies evenly for her 4 grandchildren. How many cookies did each of them get?

24 ÷ 4 = 6

Ms Jefferson’s cookies 24?

Compute the problem

Ms Jefferson divided a batch of 24 cookies evenly for her 4 grandchildren. How many cookies did each of them get?

24 ÷ 4 = 6

Each grandchild got 6 cookies.

Ms Jefferson’s cookies 24?

Write the answer as a complete sentence

Now try the rest on your own.

The Steps

Read the entire problem first.

Identify the people in the problem.

Identify their stuff

Draw unit bars

Read the problem again, one bit at a time, and label the unit bars.

Determine the question and illustrate it on the unit bar

Compute the problem

Write the answer as a complete sentence

Last month David and Mary saved some money in a ratio of 3:5. This month they saved an additional $154 together, and David now has three times as much money as he had last month while Mary has two times as much money as she had last month. How much money did they save last month?