Math Word Problems

Word problems are a series of expressions that fits into an equation.

Steps to solve math word problems:

1. Read the problem entirely and understand what does the question ask for.

2. List all the data given like the variables along with their units must be listed.

3. Look for key words like more than, less than, times, reciprocal etc.

4. Translate the given data into equations which combine expressions.

5. solve the equation and get the unknown variable or data asked for.

In many word problems, key words play an important role in our calculation to approach answer, There is the list of key words that are very commonly used.

Math word problems can be categorized in to various areas:

• Number word problems
• Algebra word problems
• Geometry word problems
• Calculus word problems
• Trigonometry word problems
• Probability and Statistics word problem

Let us understand this by one solved example of a math word problem.

One gardener can water the entire garden in twelve hours, and the second gardener takes eight hours. How long would it take the two gardeners together to water garden?

solution:

hours to complete job:

first gardener = 12 hrs

second gardener = 8 hrs

together = t hrs

completed per hr :

first gardener completes = 1/12 th part

second gardener completes = 1/ 8 th part

together = 1/ t th part

1/ 12 + 1/ 7 = 1/ t

5/24 = 1/ t

t = 24/5

so they can complete the work together in 4.8 hrs.