Summary of word problems and algebra
Last updated: 13 Oct 2008
In this tutorial we have looked at techniques for solving word problems.
- Summarize
- Organize the information you are given into equations or a table.
- When using equations, use sensible variable names.
- Identify exactly which value you have to find.
- Solve
- Keep working even if you are not sure exactly what to do.
- When using equations, keep eliminating variables until you have only the one you need to find.
- With tables, keep calculating more elements in the table until you arrive at the answer you need.
Further reading
- Introduction to problem solving by Kim Peppard
- "Age" word problems from Purplemath
- System-fo-equations word problems from Purplemath
- Basic "percent of" word problems from Purplemath
