6th Grade Math Textbook, Progress

Begin with the amount of fabric she had left (6
^12 
yd) and work

backward. Subtract the extra amount she bought and add the

amounts she used to find the amount of fabric, m, on the bolt.

6 
^12 
yd  1 
^18 
yd  2 
^38 
yd  4 
^34 
yd m

left bought used used amount on bolt

Begin with the first amount and compute by working forward:

12 
^12 
yd  4 
^34 
yd  2 
^38 
yd  1 
^18 
yd  6 
^12 
yd

Visualize yourself in the problem above as you reread it.

List the facts and the question.

Facts: She used 4
^34 
yd and 2
^38 
yd.

She bought 1


1

8


yd more.

She had 6


1

2


yd left.

Question:How much fabric was on the bolt she bought?

Mrs. Kline bought a bolt of fabric. She used 4
^34 
yd

to make a dress and 2
^38 
yd for a jacket. After buying

1 
^18 
yd more, she had 6
^12 
yd left to make two pairs

of pants. How much fabric was on the bolt she bought?

Problem-Solving Strategy:

Work Backward

7-10

Add or subtract in order from left to right.

6 


1

2 
yd ^1 

1

8 
yd ^2 

3

8 
yd ^4 

3

4 
yd m

5 
^38 
yd  2 
^38 
yd  4 
^34 
yd m

7 
^34 
yd  4 
^34 
yd m

12 
^24 
yd  12 
^12 
yd

There was 12
^12 
yd of fabric on the bolt.

Think

6 
^48 
 1 
^18 
 5 
^38 

Think

7 
^6

8


 7 
^3

4

Think

11 
^64 
 12 
^24 
 12 
^12 

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