Mathematics
Grade 7
15 min
Word problems with multiple steps or extra or missing information
Word problems with multiple steps or extra or missing information
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1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify the question being asked in a multi-step word problem.
Distinguish between relevant and irrelevant information in a word problem.
Identify when crucial information is missing from a word problem and state what is needed.
Break down a multi-step word problem into a sequence of smaller, manageable steps.
Formulate a plan to solve word problems involving multiple steps or extraneous data.
Solve multi-step word problems and justify their solutions.
Check the reasonableness of their answers in the context of the problem.
Ever felt lost in a word problem with too many numbers or not enough? 🤔 Don't worry, we're here to turn those confusing puzzles into clear paths to solutions!
In this lesson, you'll learn powerful strategies to navi...
2
Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Multi-Step Word ProblemA word problem that requires two or more mathematical operations or calculations to find the final answer.Calculating the total cost of items after a discount and then adding sales tax.
Relevant InformationThe facts, numbers, and conditions in a word problem that are necessary to solve the problem.In a problem about buying apples, the price per apple and the number of apples bought are relevant.
Irrelevant (Extra) InformationFacts or numbers in a word problem that are not needed to solve the problem and can distract you.In a problem about buying apples, the color of the apples or the day of the week they were bought might be irrelevant.
Missing InformationCrucial facts or numbers that are not provided in a word problem, making it impossible to...
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Core Formulas
The Understanding Rule
$ \text{Read Carefully} \rightarrow \text{Identify Question} \rightarrow \text{List Given Facts} $
Before doing any math, thoroughly read the problem. Clearly identify what the problem is asking you to find and list all the numerical and factual information provided.
The Planning Rule
$ \text{Relevant Info?} \rightarrow \text{Missing Info?} \rightarrow \text{Order Steps} $
Determine which pieces of information are essential for solving the problem. Identify if any critical information is missing. Then, outline the sequence of operations or steps needed to reach the solution.
The Execution Rule
$ \text{Perform Calculations} \rightarrow \text{Label Units} $
Carry out each step of your plan, performing the necessary calculations accurately. Make s...
5 more steps in this tutorial
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Challenging
A baker is making a cake and some muffins. The cake recipe requires 3 cups of flour. The muffin recipe requires 2 cups of flour for every 12 muffins. The baker has a 10-cup bag of flour. He wants to make a cake and as many muffins as possible. To determine the final number of muffins he can make, what information is missing?
A.The baking time for the cake.
B.The number of eggs he has.
C.The amount of sugar needed for the muffins.
D.No information is missing.
Challenging
A rectangular park is 100 meters long and 60 meters wide. A path that is 2 meters wide is built around the outside of the park. The park has 15 benches. Which equation represents the area of the path, A?
A.= (100 * 60) - 15
B.= (102 * 62) - (100 * 60)
C.= (104 * 64) - (100 * 60)
D.= 2 * (100 + 60)
Challenging
In the 'Painting a Room' example, the problem was unsolvable because the room's height was missing. What if the problem stated the room was a perfect cube and its length was 10 feet? Could you solve for the number of paint cans needed to paint the walls?
A.Yes, because in a cube all sides are equal, so the height would be 10 feet.
B.No, because you still don't know the area of the ceiling.
C.No, because you don't know how many doors or windows there are to subtract.
D.Yes, because the volume of the cube tells you the wall area.
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