Grades 3-5 Math Problem Solving in Action_ Getting Students to Love Word Problems

Figure 2.6

Division Problems

Problem Types Amount in

Each Equal Group

Amount of Equal Groups

Arrays How many in each group?

Arrays How many groups?

Area

Rate

Price

Division

Grace had 20 rings that she divided up into 2 boxes. How many rings did she put in each box?

The bakery made 50 cupcakes. They packed 10 per box. How many boxes did they use?

Farmer John planted a total of 44 peach trees in 4 rows. How many trees were in each row?

Farmer John planted 44 peaches in rows with 11 peaches in each one. How many rows did he plant?

Ms.

Betty had

a garden that covered 30 squar

e feet. It

was 5 feet long. What was the width?

James rode his bike 5 miles in 1 hour. If he wants to ride 10 miles today, how long will it take him?

Toy cars cost $7 for a pair. How much does each car cost?

Bar Diagram

Modeling

Problem

50

?

10

????

44

44

11

?

30 square 5 ft.feet

10

?

2

7

What are we

looking for?

Where is

X

?

In this type of story, we are looking for the amount in each group.

In this type of story, we are looking for the amount of groups.

In this type of story we are looking for the amount in each ro w.

In this type of story, we are looking for the amount of rows.

In this type of story, we are looking for one of the sides.

In this type of problem, we are working with rates.

In this type of problem, we are looking for the price of each item.

Algebraic

Sentence

20 ÷ 2

=

10

50 ÷ 10

=

5

44 ÷ 4

=

11

44 ÷ 1

1

=^

4

30 ÷ 5

=

6

10 ÷ 5

=

2

7 ÷ 2

=

3.50

Strategies to

Solve

DivideThinkmultiplication

DivideThinkmultiplication

DivideThinkmultiplication

DivideThinkmultiplication

DivideThinkmultiplication

DivideThinkmultiplication

DivideThinkmultiplication

Answer

Grace had 10 rings in each box.

The bakery used 5 boxes.

Eleven trees wer

e in each

ro w.

He planted 4 rows.

The width was 6 feet long.

It will take him 5

hours.

Each car cost $3.50.

?

?

?

5

?

?

20