Maths word problems are often a challenge for a lot of learners; nevertheless, it’s crucial that they master these problems. This is because, in terms of real-world scenarios, almost all maths that people are called upon to compute take the shape of word problems.
Basically, teachers can ensure that maths word problems are not a source of anxiety and confusion for students. They need to teach students relevant strategies to techniques that make it easier to solve maths problems. What’s more, it helps them hone their skills and use them in daily life even after they are no longer in school.
To tackle maths word problems, a learner would work more effectively if they stick to certain basic steps.
- Go through the whole problem without attempting to work it out yet
- Find out which aspects of the problem calls for an actual answer
- After this is done the information can be used to work out the solution to the problem
Strategies to Help Learners Solve Maths Word Problems
Students can be taught this process for various maths related problems as it will enable them to learn problem-solving skills which they will easily be able to apply to situations in their everyday life. There is a specific logic behind each of the steps and being aware of them can help students speed up their learning.
Going through the problem
When students go through the whole problem without the pressure of solving it at the first instance, they are able to rectify one of the major mistakes made while solving word problems. They tend to reach quick premature answers using the correct numbers but missing the logic involved. After reading a word problem thoroughly learners get a complete idea of what is being described in it before the attempt to begin solving it. In this way, learners tend to solve problems faster than they would have previously, as their attention is not split into trying to read the problem and also isolate the numbers to come up with the final answer simultaneously.
Figuring out the aspects that need an answer
When learners get an idea of the overall scenario and context of the maths word problem, they are able to understand what solutions are required. Typically, work problems tackle different facets of a scenario and often call for several steps but only expect a single answer at the end. If learners figure out the type of answer that is expected at the start, they would no longer waste time carrying out incorrect operations and getting confused in the process.
Working out the solution
At the end, after the learner has figured out the situation being presented in the word problem and the aspect that requires an answer, they will then be able to go about solving it smoothly. In time and with enough practice students will get familiar with solving problems and will even be able to do steps one and two at the same time, speeding up the process even more.
It’s easy to see that when learners are taught to solve maths word problems with relevant strategies and steps, they are able to arrive at the answers in a quick and logical way.
Comments
Post a Comment