6th Grade Math Textbook, Progress

Some problems can be solved by combining strategies.

To find the number of stamps Leon bought,

Work Backward and Write and Solve Equations.

Let n
number of stamps Leon had left.

Let t
number of stamps Leon bought.

15 
50% of n and n 6 
t

Begin with 36 stamps.

Visualize yourself in the problem above as

you reread it. List the facts and the question.

Facts: Leon bought some stamps.

He used 6 stamps.

He gave away 50% of what was left.

He then had 15.

Question:How many stamps did Leon buy?

Leon bought some stamps. He used 6 of them to mail

a package. He gave 50% of what was left to Mira. Then

he had 15 stamps. How many stamps did Leon buy?

Problem-Solving Strategy:

Combine Strategies

11-15

15 
50% of n

15 
^12 n

15  2 
  2

30 
n

Leon had 30 stamps left.

n 6 
t 30  6 
t

36 
t

So Leon bought 36 stamps.

n

2

Think

50% 
^12 

“of ” means .

36  6 
 30 and 50%  30 
 15

bought used left left

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