Problem Solving Strategies

Eliminate Answers

· Good for multiple choice

Work Backwards

· When they give us the answer and we have to figure out how to get there

Draw a Picture

· To help explain our thinking (I’m from Missouri)

Measure to Solve

· Rulers and protractors, or fractions and percents

Interpret Data

· Explaining what the tables and graphs are telling us

Use a Variable

· Finding the meat and potatoes of the word problem. It lets us know what we need/want so we can eliminate everything we don’t need

Estimate the Answer

· So we can make sure our answer makes sense