UNRAAVEL a Math Problem

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UNRAAVEL a Math Problem

• Sure-Fire Steps to Becoming a Math Genius!

UNRAAVEL Strategy presented by Larry I. Bell.
Taken from Area 6 ALTs
Fourth and Fifth Grade Problem.
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Sometimes it can be difficultto figure out what
to do whenyou are faced with a word problem.

• Even Albert Einstein said
• Do not worry about your difficulties in
  Mathematics. I can assure you mine are still
  greater.

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If he had known about UNRAAVEL..

• ..he may have been able to do even more with
  Math!
• Are you ready to learn how to UNRAAVEL a math
  problem?

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U Underline the question
Allison is buying five sets of markers for each
of her twelve art students. If each set of
markers costs 5.75, how much will she spend on
markers?

• Find the question and Underline it!

Sid has 50.00. He bought two video games that
cost 14.00 each. He also bought a poster for
5.69. How much money did he have left after his
purchases?
We are going to practice UNRAAVEL with this one!
The soccer team scored six times as many goals
during the regular season as they did during
playoffs. The team scored forty-two goals during
the regular season. How many goals were scored
during the playoffs?
The students are asked to put their booth fifteen
feet from the entry way on the path to the
parking lot. The parking lot is sixty-two feet
from the entry way. How far is their booth from
the parking lot?
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N Now Predict What Do You ThinkYou Need to
Do to Solve the Problem?

• Do you think the answer will be larger or
  smaller? Do you think you will need to add,
  subtract, multiply, or divide? Are there any
  hints that you may need to estimate?

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I predict that I will need to subtract. I saw
the words HAVE LEFT in the question.
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R Read the Word Problem

• Read the
• entire problem!!!!

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Read it, Dudes and Dudettes!
Sid has 50.00. He bought two video games that
cost 14.00 each. He also bought a poster for
5.69. How much money did he have left after his
purchases?
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A Are the Important Words Circled? (especially
the clue words?)

• Sid has 50.00. He bought two video games that
  cost 14.00 each. He also bought a poster for
  5.69. How much money did he have left after his
  purchases?

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A Apply the Steps You Chose to Solve the Problem

• 14.00
• X 2

Video Games
28.00
Video Games Plus Poster
28.00 5.69
33.69
Total Amount Spent
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• Sid has 50.00. He bought two video games that
  cost 14.00 each. He also bought a poster for
  5.69. How much money did he have left after his
  purchases?

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Sids Money

• 50.00
• - 33.69

16.31
What he spent
Leftover!
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V Verify Your Answer. (Is it reasonable?
Does it Make Sense?)
16.31 IS reasonable because it is smaller than
50.00. It would make sense to have this amount
left after buying games and a poster.
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E Eliminate Wrong Answers.

• a. 66.31
• b. 15.00
• c. 55.76
• d. 16.31

Too big.
Cant End in two Zeroes.
Too big.
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L Let the Answer Stay or Rework the Problem
I got that one correct, but I may have to rework
the next one!
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How do you UNRAAVEL?

• U nderline the question
• N ow predict what you think you need to do to
• solve the problem
• R ead the word problem
• A re the important words circled?
• (especially clue words)
• A pply the step(s) you chose to solve the problem
• V erify your answer (is it reasonable does it
• make sense?)
• E liminate wrong answers
• L et the answer stay or rework the problem
• ?Double check your work!

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• UNRAAVEL Strategy Adapted from the Work and
  Property of Larry Bell. (http//www.larry-bell.com
  / )
• PowerPoint Background and Animations from
  Animation Factory (http//www.animationfactory.com
  )
• Math Word Problems from Silver-Burdett Ginn Fifth
  Grade Math Book.

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Elements

• www.animationfactory.com