In math, there will be situations where you will have to make a
decision about how to solve a problem. Sometimes there is no
right way to solve it. As long as you are using an appropriate
method and following the correct steps, you will be successful!
Let’s look at a word problem and compare the way three students
decided to solve it.
The guidance counselor needs to divide 351 students into
13 different fifth-grade classrooms. How many students
will be in each classroom? To find a solution, the three
students below each chose to use a different strategy.
Click each student to view how they solved this problem. After
you have reviewed the students’ work, answer the question below.
I can use powers of 10 and do 10 times 13, which is
130. When I subtract 130 from 351, I have 221. That's
enough to subtract 130 again. 221 – 130 = 91. Since 91
is less than 130, there are no more sets of 10 left.
This means that the next partial quotient has to be
less than 10. Well, I know that 3 x 7 = 21, and 91 has
a 1 in the ones place, so I'll try 7 x 13. 7 x 13 =
91. Since this is exactly 91, we are done and can now
add the partial quotient sets: the quotient is
10 + 10 + 7 = 27. This means that 27 students will be
in each class.
I know that 13 x 20 is 260, so I'll subtract:
351 - 260 = 91. My next partial quotient has to be
less than 10, which means that I can guess and check:
13 x 7 = 91 exactly, which means there will not be a
remainder. This means that my final quotient will be
20 + 7 = 27. This means that 27 students will be in
each class.
I like to solve division problems using the
traditional long division strategy, like this:
You have seen how the three students above chose to solve
the problem. How would you solve the division expression?
Which student solved this problem using the method that you
would have chosen?
There is no right or wrong answer. As long as you choose a
method you are comfortable with, you are on the right track!
