Final answer:
To solve a math problem, you need to identify the given information and what needs to be found, organize the information, find patterns, and then use equations to solve the problem.
Step-by-step explanation:
Steps for Problem Solving
- Identify the "given" information and what the problem is asking you to "find."
- Organize the information and create a list of knowns and unknowns.
- Look for patterns or relationships in the given information.
- Find an equation or set of equations that can help you solve the problem. It's easiest if you can find equations that contain only one unknown, so you can easily solve for the unknown. If the equation contains more than one unknown, an additional equation is needed. Sometimes, multiple unknowns must be determined to get the final answer.
- Solve the equations to find the unknown(s).
- Check your solution by substituting the values back into the original problem to ensure they make sense.
- Communicate your solution and make sure it answers the question being asked.