More complicated word problem help?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around strategies for solving word problems that involve equations, focusing on how to identify relevant formulas and translate problems into symbolic form. Participants explore the challenges of understanding and applying mathematical concepts in various contexts, including pre-algebra and algebra.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses difficulty in identifying clues for solving word problems that involve equations when not explicitly stated.
  • Another participant suggests that problems with equations in symbolic form are simpler to manage than word problems, which require translation into symbolic form before solving.
  • A participant questions how to approach a problem when they are unsure of the relevant formula, seeking guidance on how to organize the information correctly.
  • It is proposed that familiarity with a set of formulas and reading comprehension skills are necessary to select the appropriate formulas for a given problem.
  • One participant provides examples of problems involving percentage growth and combinations, indicating a lack of recognition of the necessary arithmetic principles to solve them.
  • A later reply emphasizes the importance of translating descriptions into variable forms and identifying relationships within the problem to develop a symbolic answer.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants appear to share a common understanding of the challenges posed by word problems, but there is no consensus on specific strategies or solutions for addressing these challenges. Multiple viewpoints on how to approach the problems remain present.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference different levels of algebra (Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, Algebra 2) without specifying how these levels impact the approach to solving word problems. There is also a lack of clarity on the specific formulas or relationships that may be applicable to the examples discussed.

Tyrion101
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I've gotten ok at reading and understanding simple word problems, but when there are equations involved, what clues do I look for if I'm not told beforehand what I'm dealing with?
 
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Are these problems with equations involved only in symbolic form? Follow the instructions for the set of exercises so you know what you are expected to do, or what to solve.

EDIT: Involving equations instead of managing a word problem is simpler, and less effort because you already have your equation in symbolic form and then just need to solve it; a word problem requires you to both translate into symbolic form AND then to solve.
 
Last edited:
Well, what I would like to know is, let's say that I'm sure that the word problem is asking for formula X, however, I don't know formula X, is there a way I can work out how to correctly put the numbers? I hope that makes sense.
 
Often enough YES. In some cases, you need to know a set of formulas and use reading comprehension to help choose the related formulas for the problem. In other cases, you may need to know a few formulas by training and instinct, and must DERIVE an equation from which you must DERIVE the needed formula.

Do you have a couple of examples?
 
Like, let's say you have a problem, where it asks about you starting off with an amount of money, and it grows such and such percent over the year, how much would you have afterwords, with nothing in the way of the typical arithmetic clues to guide you. I know how to do the percent of something, not grow by a percentage. The only other one I can think of at present has to do with a license plate problem, 3 letters, 2 numbers, and how many possible combinations are there? Again, nothing that I recognize from the basic arithmatic, I know I could just count the second, but that'd take forever, and I know that there is probably something simple I could do to figure out maybe, but what that is I have no clue.
 
Tyrion101,

Regarding post #5:

Those are general descriptions. Do you have a couple of examples?

Are you studying Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, or Algebra 2? Which, if any?
 
Actually, your first description can be treated as something to translate into a form using variables. Assign a variable to everything. What formulas or relationships are found in the problem description? Write these using numbers or variables. What number are you looking to solve for? Develop the answer purely in symbolic form (formula which will be expressed as numbers, some of them being variables.)
 

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