Problem-Solving Steps

Here are the four problem-solving steps:

1. Understand the problem.
2. Make a plan.
3. Carry out the plan.
4. Look back.

Question

Alexis had 98 trading cards last Saturday. She gave a dozen to her little brother but her big brother gave her a pair. Alexis traded 9 more cards for 4 new ones that were more valuable. She then traded another half dozen for 1 that she had been hoping to find. Alexis wants to get a card album for her birthday so she can organize all her cards. Yesterday she was running home with all of her cards in her bag. She dropped 2 of her cards along the way because the bag was not zipped.

How many cards did she have when she got home?

STEP 1: Understand the problem.

Alexis has trading cards and she gets more from other people and gives some so she has less. She adds and subtracts cards.

STEP 2: Make a plan.

Diagrams are plans that can help solve a problem. A diagram is a good plan. A model is also a good plan. Pennies or counters can be used to represent the trading cards.

STEP 3: Carry put the plan.

Carry out the plan in your Lesson Notes. Try to make a diagram and try it again with a model. See if you get the same answer using both methods.

   STEP 4: Look back.

What answer did you get and how can you look back to check it?

Alexis ends up with 76 trading cards. Look back by asking if the answer makes sense and check your steps. You can even write a number sentence. 98 - 12 + 2 - 9 + 4 - 6 + 1 -2

Write the four problem-solving steps in your Lesson Notes.