The

5-Step Problem Solving Plan for Word

Problems

Notes
 The 5-Step Problem Solving Plan

Step 1: IDENTIFY (what am I being asked to nd?)
Step 2: FIND (what do I know, what do I not know?)
Step 3: CHOOSE (how will I solve the problem?)
Step 4: SOLVE
Step 5: CHECK and JUSTIFY (does this answer the
original quesDon,how can I jusDfy and explain my
answer?)
 Solve using the 5-Step Problem Solving Plan

Helen has 5 yards of fabric to make two dresses.

The larger dress requires 3 yards of fabric. How
many yards of fabric will she have leN to make the
smaller dress?
1. IDENTIFY: What am I being asked to nd?
I need to nd the amount of fabric Helen has aNer making the larger dress.

2. Find: What do I know/not know? 3. Choose: How will I solve this problem?
The total amount of fabric 5 yards, the I will subtract the amount for the larger
amount used for the larger dress 3 yards. dress from the total amount of fabric. I
I dont know how much is leN. have to convert to common denominators.
4. Solve 5. Check and JusDfy
5 - 3 5 2/4 3 22/4 15/4 = 1 + 3 = 4 6/4 or 5 2/4 = 5
7/4 or 1 yards of fabric
 Solve Using 5S-PSP
Shawn wants to buy a new snowboard, which
costs $396. If he earns $8.25 an hour, how many
hours must he work in order to earn enough
money to buy the snowboard?
1. IDENTIFY: What am I being asked to nd?
How many hours must he work in order to pay
for the snowboard?
2. Find: What do I know/not know? 3. Choose: How will I solve this problem?

Cost of snowboard: $396 Divide Total Cost by Hourly Pay
Hourly Pay: $8.25/hour

4. Solve 396 / 8.25 5. Check and JusDfy

Check: 48 x 8.25 = 396
48 = 48 hours
 Solve Using 5S-PSP
Miles went trick-or-treaDng on Halloween and got
521 pieces of candy. Kyle went with him and got
439 pieces of candy. How much more candy did
Miles get?
1. IDENTIFY: What am I being asked to nd?
How much more candy did Miles get?

2. Find: What do I know/not know? 3. Choose: How will I solve this problem?

Miles got 521 pieces of candy Subtract Kyles candy from Miles candy
Kyle got 439 pieces of candy amounts

4. Solve 521 439 = 82 5. Check and JusDfy

Check: Kyles + dierence = Miles
82 pieces of candy
439 + 82 = 521
 Solve Using 5S-PSP
Rosita and Jolene went trick-or-treaDng and
decided to share their Halloween candy. Rosita got
723 pieces of candy and Jolene got 578 pieces of
candy. How much candy did they get altogether?
1. IDENTIFY: What am I being asked to nd?
How much candy did they get altogether?

2. Find: What do I know/not know? 3. Choose: How will I solve this problem?

Rosita got 723 pieces of candy Add both candy amounts
Jolene got 578 pieces of candy

4. Solve 723 + 578 = 5. Check and JusDfy

1,301 723 = 578
1,301 pieces of candy
1,301 578 = 723