THE RELATIONSHIP OF READING COMPREHENSION ON STUDENT’S ABILITY

IN SOLVING MATHEMATICAL WORD PROBLEMS

This study aims to determine the relationship of reading comprehension in the student’s ability in solving the
mathematical word problems.

Specifically, this study aims to answer the following questions:

1. What is the relationship of reading comprehension in the student’s ability in solving the mathematical word
problems?
2. How does the words used in a word problem affects the student’s capability in solving word problems?
3. How does reading comprehension affects a student’s ability in solving word problems?
4. How does answering mathematical word problem with given background information differ from answering
mathematical word problems without giving any background information?

I. Demographic Profile

Name: ______________________________ Grade in Math last grading:

Grade & Section: _______________ ___ 75 – 79 ___ 90 – 94

Contact Number: __________ ___ 80 – 84 ___ 95 and above

Sex: ___ 85 - 89

___ Male ___ Female

Age:

___ 15 ___ 17

___ 16 ___ 18

II. Student-related Factors

Direction: Please put a check (✓) in the column of YES if the statements given below suit you and put a check in the
column of NO if not.

STATEMENTS YES NO
 1. I find it difficult in understanding math phrase/words.
2. I’m not good at understanding mathematical word problems that I
just read once.
3. I don’t really like solving mathematical word problems.
4. It’s not easy for me to understand math text that I didn’t know it’s
meaning.
5. I don’t have a good reading comprehension in mathematical word
problems.
6. Understanding math phrases/words are easy for me.
7. Comprehending mathematical word problems that I just read once is
not that difficult for me.
8. Interpreting math phrases into math equations are easy for me.
9. I have a wide vocabulary in math.
10. I have a good reading comprehension in mathematical word
problems.

III. Problem Solving

Direction: Answer the following problems.

Set A

Average – it is the sum of all the values divided by the number of values.

1. The average of three numbers is 6. When one number is removed from the list, the average is 5. What is the number
that was removed from the list?

a.2 b.4 c.6 d.8

Polynomial function – an expression consisting of variables and coefficients, that involves only the operations of
addition, subtraction, multiplication and non-negative integer exponents of variables.

2. A car manufacturer determines that it’s profit, P, in thousands of pesos, can be modeled by the function

P(x) = 0.00125x4 + x – 3. What is profit (if x is equal to 300)?

a.101.25 b.1,039,500 c.10,125,295 d.10,125,297

Set B

1. Paul works 3 jobs to make ends meet. His job pays him 200/week, his second is 300/week and his third is 100/week.
What is Paul’s average income/week per job?

a.100/week per job b.350/week per job c.200/week per job d.150/week per job
2. The length of a garden is 2m more than twice its width and its area is 24 m 2. Which of the following equations
represents the given situation?

a. x2 + x = 12 c. x2 + x = 24

b. x2 +2x = 12 d. x2 + 2x = 24

3. Oscar sold 2 glasses of milk for every 5 sodas he sold. If she sold 10 glasses of milk, how many sodas did he sell?

a.45 b.20 c.25 d.10

Questions:

1. Did you answer the mathematical word problems?

_____ Yes _____ No

2. Is it difficult for you to understand such mathematic phrases/words if it’s meaning is not given?

_____ Yes _____ No

3. Does your vocabulary in math help you to solve the mathematical word problems?

_____ Yes _____ No

4. Do you think, understanding what you just read is important especially in solving mathematical word problem?

_____ Yes _____ No

5. Which set of questions are easy for you to answer?

_____Those with informational details _____Those without informational details