HOW TO SOLVE A WORD PROBLEM

1. READ… and understand what the problem is about and what questions(s) you need to answer

2. If appropriate, DRAW a figure or diagram or make a chart or table to organize information

3. Assign a VARIABLE to the unknown quantity

Be specific about what the variable represents

If there are other unknown quantities represent them in terms of the same variable

4. Write an EQUATION that describes in symbols the information given in the problem

5. SOLVE the equation

6. Use the solution to ANSWER THE QUESTION(s) asked in the problem

7. CHECK the answer