Problem Solving Strategies

in
Mathematics
(With Sample Worksheets)
(Grades2-5)
 Types of Errors Commonly Made By Students in Solving Statement
Problems/Sums

1) Reading -Do not recognize key words or symbols.

2) Comprehension -Can read the problems well but cannot comprehend the
meaning of the words, symbols or question.
3) Transformation-Cannot transform sentences into mathematical forms.
4) Processing skills-Can choose an appropriate operation but cannot complete
the operation accurately.
5) Encoding ability -Can perform the correct operations but writes the answer
incorrectly.
6) Careless mistakes -Mistakes made which can be caught automatically upon
reviewing your work.
Strategies used are :
a) Critical reading of the problem sum
b) Question Answer Relationship (QAR)
c) Guided/scaffolded worksheet/hint cards
d) Visualization

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 A.Question Answer Relationship (QAR)

Objective:
Reading and writing in math
How to critically read a problem sum and find the key word to identify
the operation.

Problem sum:
1) There are 386 mangoes on a tree. One day during
a storm, 124 mangoes fell down. How many
mangoes are left on the tree?

What type of tree was it?

What was growing on it?
How many mangoes were growing
on it?
What happened on day?
What happens during a storm?
So, what happened to the mangoes?
How many mangoes fell down?
After the storm will the number of
mangoes on the tree be less or more?
Which word in the problem statement
gave you this hint?
So what operation will you perform?
What sign will you use?
What number will you write first?
Why will you write that number first?
What number will you write below
it?
Why will you write it below the first
number?
Do the sum.

Draw a picture also.

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 How to write a problem statement

a)What statement will you write first? ________________________________

b) What is the second statement? ___________________________________

c)What is the third statement? ________________________________

d) What will be your final statement? ________________________

2) A tank contained 100 l 750 ml of

water.40 l 630 ml was used for
household work. Find the quantity of
water left in the tank?

Instructions: Write all the questions and

answers will you ask yourself to solve
the problem. Then show the calculations.

__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

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 B. Visualization

1) Complete the number line of the metric system. Show the relationship
between the units by putting the arrow signs and the correct
multiplication/division symbol.

Conversion Rule
Big to small-Multiplication: B>S>M
Small to Big-Division: S>B>D

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 2) Mamtas bag weighed 3kg 750g and Sushmas bag weighed 2kg 440g.
Find the weight of both the bags together.

What is given in the question?

____________________________________

What do you have to do?

____________________________________

What operation will you perform?

____________________________________

In what units is the measurement?

____________________________________

What is the relationship of the units?

____________________________________

Keeping the decimal in mind how will you write 3kg 750g?
____________________________________

Can you depict the problem as a drawing?

____________________________________

Perform the calculation.

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3) John has a pet spider and a pet rabbit. The spider is 10 mm long and the
rabbit is 35 cm long. How much longer is the rabbit than the spider?

Draw and solve the problem. Write the correct statements and solve the
problem.

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4) There are 8 kg 250g of apples in a carton.5 kg 825 g
of the apples were rotten.
What is the weight of the good apples?

Instructions: Write questions and answers will you ask

yourself to solve the problem. You can also draw a
diagram for help. Then show the calculations.

__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

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 C.Guided/ scaffolded worksheet
Hint cards for doing the sums.

Problem What What

What What is the Do the calculation What
do you word
operations conversion unit
have to gave the
do you rule? will
do? hint?
have to you
do? write?
Express Change Express, I have to B>S>M 1 km =1000m M
18 km as km to km, m convert 1 km 8 km =8x1000
meters m km into m =1000m =8000 m
multiplication

1. Problem Sum:
Problem What What What What is the Do the calculation What
do you word operations conversion rule? unit
have to gave the
do you have will I
do? hint? to do? write?
Express Change Express,
a) I have to B>S>M 1 km =1000m m
18 km as km to km, m convert 1 km =1000m 8 km =8x1000 =8000 m
meters m km into multiplication
m
Change Express, a) I have to B>S>M a) 1 km =1000m m
Express km to km, m convert multiplication 62 km =62 x 1000
as meters. m km into 1 km =1000m =62,000 m
b) 62 62km 305 m
m b) Add the Addition b) 62,000
meters + 305
already 62,305 m
given in
the
question

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Change Change Change a) I have to B>S>M 1m =10 dm cm
2m 5dm m, dm m, dm, convert a) Multiplication 2m= 20dm
6cm into into cm cm m into
cm dm
b) Add the b) Addition 20dm +5 dm =25 dm
dm to the
dm
already
in the
question
c) Change
the dm c) Multiplication 1 dm =10cm
into cm 25dm =25 x10= 250 cm
d) Add the d) Addition
cm I got 250cm + 6cm = 256 cm
to cm in
the
question

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 Conversion Rule
Big to small-Multiplication: B>S>M
Small to Big-Division: S>B>D

What do What What With How How many Perform What

Express you have to rule will operation/s what many places will the the unit will
as do? you will you do? will you jumps? decimal operation you
decimal apply? divide? move? write

A. 720 Convert
mm in smaller SBD Divide 10 One place 1 place to the 720 10= cm
cm unit to to the left left. 72 cm
larger

B. 861 cl
in l

C. 2541
mm in
m

D. 3205 g
in kg

E. 20cm
8mm in
cm

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