Methods in Solving Problems/ Translating Mathematical Problems into Equations

Step 1: Analyze the problem carefully and determine what is being asked.
Step 2: Assign a variable to the quantity that is being asked.
Step 3: Define the variable that it represents.
Step 4: Through analyzing the problem, formulate the equation that will be helpful in solving the
quantity that is being asked.
Step 5: Solve the equation.
Step 6: Answer the problem through the solution.
Step 7: Check for your solution.
Example Problem: Jeff drove five times as far as Gerald in a given amount of time. If the sum of
the distances that they drove is 90 kilometers, find the number of kilometers that driven by Jeff
and Gerald.
Solution:
Step 1: What is being asked?
- Number of kilometers driven by Jeff and Number of Kilometers driven by Gerald
Step 2: Assign a variable to the quantity that is being asked.
- Let x be the quantity of the unknown
Step 3: Define the variable that it represents.
- Let x=number of kilometers driven by Gerald and 5(x)=number of kilometers driven by
Jeff
Step 4: Formulate the equation
Since it was indicated in the problem that the sum of number of kilometers driven by
each is 90, the equation would be:
(number of kilometers driven by Gerald) + (number of kilometers driven by Jeff) = 90 kilometers
Step 5: Solve the equation
First, substitute the variables that were defined in Step 3 to the equation in Step 4:
x + 5(x) =90
6x =90
x= 15 kilometers
Step 6: Answer the problem.
x= number of kilometers driven by Gerald = 15 kilometers
5(x) = number of kilometer driven by Jeff = 5(15 kilometers) = 75 kilometers
Step 7: Check if the values acquired are correct
(number of kilometers driven by Gerald) + (number of kilometers driven by Jeff) = 90 kilometers
15 kilometers + 75 kilometers = 90 kilometers
90 kilometers = 90 kilometers

Multiplying 2 digit numbers by another 2 digit numbers using Parallel Lines

Example: 12 x 13
Step 1: Consider the first 2-digit number. Determine the tens and the units of the given number.
Draw parallel lines (diagonal) that have space between the number of tens and units.
In the given example, 12 is the first 2-digit number. The tens is 1 and the units is 2. Then
draw: 1 line for the tens and 2 lines for the units.

Step 2: Consider the Consider the first 2-digit number. Determine the tens and the units of the
given number. Draw parallel lines (diagonal) that have space between the number of tens and
units.
In the given example, 13 is the first 2-digit number. The tens is 1 and the units is 3. Then
draw: 1 line for the tens and 3 lines for the units.

Step 3: Determine the regions in the figure where the lines intersect. And since the product will
be a 3-digit, define the region by hundreds, tens and units.

Step 4: Count the intersection of lines per region.

As for the figure, let us consider the Hundreds region. It is needed to count the intersection of
lines. In the hundreds region, there is only 1 intersection.
For the Tens region, the number of intersection is 5.
For the Units region, the number of intersection is 6.
Step 5: Determine the answer by filling up the blanks of the 3-digit number. 1 5 6
Step 6 (optional): Use long method of multiplication.
12
x13
36
+12_
156