Why do students struggle with word problems?

[Vanadium 50]

So, if that's the case, how does this help me?

You should stop blaming the problems (or the problem-writers) and look inward,

 

[nycmathguy]

You should stop blaming the problems (or the problem-writers) and look inward,

So, I'm the problem and not illiterate writers that cannot put together a structured set of sentences. Have you ever read a probability word problem? Talk about fuzzy language.

 

[symbolipoint]

So, I'm the problem and not illiterate writers that cannot put together a structured set of sentences. Have you ever read a probability word problem? Talk about fuzzy language.

You have not reached that level yet. Most important is learn basic Algebra 1, and common 'Basic Mathematics' such as what most people are expected to learn in grades 6, 7, 8, 9. Any Probability instruction and exercises at that level would generally be less complicated; and would not be in large enough portion of the coursework to strongly affect your course grade.

 

[CrysPhys]

So, I'm the problem and not illiterate writers that cannot put together a structured set of sentences. Have you ever read a probability word problem? Talk about fuzzy language.

Before you continue your tirade against poorly written word problems, you should pause and strongly reflect upon the example tendered above by Mark44 in Post #7.

Mary is 4 years older than her brother John. Eight years ago Mary was twice as old as John. What are Mary's and John's ages now?

It is a rudimentary word problem containing only three short sentences. It is clearly written. No ambiguities. No red herrings; i.e., extraneous information intentionally strewn to test whether you can extract the relevant information from background noise.

Yet, in your Reply #12, you got it dead wrong. So, what is a reasonable conclusion that we should draw?

 

[PeroK]

So, I'm the problem and not illiterate writers that cannot put together a structured set of sentences. Have you ever read a probability word problem? Talk about fuzzy language.

So, there's this game show hosted by someone called Monty Hall ...

 

[Office_Shredder]

So, I'm the problem and not illiterate writers that cannot put together a structured set of sentences. Have you ever read a probability word problem? Talk about fuzzy language.

I've read many word problems, and most of them are fine. You know the real world is nothing but poorly defined word problems right? I agree with the rest of the posters here - even if you've seen some badly written word problems, your attitude about them is almost certainly the primary thing holding you back.

 

[Mark44]

So, I'm the problem and not illiterate writers that cannot put together a structured set of sentences. Have you ever read a probability word problem? Talk about fuzzy language.

As already mentioned several time, word problems are not generally written by illiterate writers. You seem to be making broad, sweeping generalizations based on very little actual data. In statistics, extrapolating outside of the known data can lead to incorrect conclusions.

So, there's this game show hosted by someone called Monty Hall ...

@nycmathguy, there is a well-known probability problem based on the show that Monty Hall hosted, and this was what @PeroK was referring to. The problem is well-known enough to have its own Wikipedia entry -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Hall_problem. Apparently your knowledge of probability problems doesn't extend to this one.

This thread has run its course and is now closed.