 To solve Mathematical problems, we follow four steps:

Understand Plan a Check your

Solve
the problem strategy answer

1. Understand the problem

 I can color code similar or related information

together.
 I can write the problem in my own words.
 I can underline and circle important information.
 I can identify what I need to find.

2. Plan a strategy

 I can think of what information I have and miss.

 I can relate the problem to one I solved before.
 I canthink about an appropriate strategy.
 3. Solve

 I know I am on my right way to find the

solution.
 I write my work clearly.
 My steps are organized and logical.

4. Check

 My answer is reasonable.
 I include the necessary units.
 I write my answer in a meaningful sentence.

Let us apply these 4 steps together!

Problem:

Mira has 25 seeds.

She planted 18 of them.

How many seeds does she still have?

Understand the problem

Highlight important words

Mira has 25 seeds.
She planted 18 of them.
How many seeds does she still have?
Write it in your own words
In the problem, there are is a girl named Mira who has 25 seeds.
She planted 18 of them, so this means she used 18 of them and she
lost them.
I should find how many she still has, which is the difference. So, I
need to subtract 18 from 25.

Plan a strategy

I can use more than one strategy to subtract, using:

- Number line:

- I can subtract using column method

Solve

- Number line:
I am at 25. I will move 18 steps backward.
 So, 25 – 18 = 7

- Using column method (with regrouping):

1
2 15
-
1 8
______
0 7

Check

1. I wrote my answer in a meaningful sentence:

Maria has 7 seeds now.
2. Is my answer reasonable?
Yes, because both strategies gave me the same answer.
Yes, because if I add the left amount 7 to 18 the planted
amount, I will get the original amount of seeds that is 25.
7 + 18 = 25
 Let us apply these 4 steps together!

Problem:

Maria and Hala weigh 85 Kg together. Maria weighs 50 Kg.

How much less does Hala weigh than Maria?

Understand the problem

Highlight important words

Maria and Hala weigh 85 Kg together. Maria weighs 50 Kg.
How much less does Hala weigh than Maria?

Write it in your own words

In the problem, there are two girls Maria and Hala, each one has her
own weight.

Together means the sum of their weights together is 85 Kg.

I’m given the weight of Maria that is 50 Kg.
I don’t want the weight of Hala, but rather the difference between
their weights.
To find the difference, I must find Hala’s weight first. Then, I can
find the difference.
This way, I know how much less Hala’s weight is than that of Maria.

Plan a strategy

Since I have to compare, then the appropriate strategy would be a

comparison Bar model.
 Maria (50 Kg)

85 Kg
?
Hala ? Kg

Solve

Maria (50 Kg)

85 Kg
?
Hala ? Kg

50 + H = 85
This can be interpreted as a part-part-whole where one part is
missing, that is H.
So, H = 85 – 50 = 35 Kg.
The weight of Hala is 35 Kg.
I still need to find the difference between Maria and Hala
So, 50 – 35 = 15 Kg.
Therefore, Hala is 15 Kg less than Maria.

Check
 3. I wrote my answer in a meaningful sentence:
Hala is 25 Kg less than Maria.
4. I supplement my answer with units: Kg.
5. Is my answer reasonable?
If Maria is 50 Kg, and Hala is 15 Kg less than her, then Hala’s
weight would be 35 Kg.
If the sum of their weights equals to 85 Kg (given), then my
answer is reasonable:
35 + 50 = 85 Kg.

Prepared by: Abbass Maanna