6th Grade Math Textbook, Progress

28

Strategy: Guess and Test

Last summer Jane earned $75.50 mowing lawns.

From these earnings, she saved $2.50 more than

she spent. How much money did Jane save?

Subtract the amount saved from the

amount earned to see if $36.50 was spent.

$75.50 
$39.00 $36.50

The answer checks.

Since Jane made $75.50, choose a reasonable guess for the

amount of money spent, such as $30.00. Make a table and

compute the amount saved. Find the total to test your guess.

So the amount spent is between $36.00 and $39.00.

Tr y $37.00.

Jane saved $39.00.

Visualize yourself in the problem as you

reread it. List the facts and the question.

Facts: Jane saved $2.50 more

than she spent.

Jane earned $75.50.

Question: How much money did

she save?

Spent

Saved

Total

Test

Spent

Saved

Total

Check

$30.00 $33.00 $36.00 $39.00

$32.50 $35.50 $38.50 $41.50

$62.50 $68.50 $74.50 $80.50

too low too low too low too high

$37.00 $36.50

$39.50 $39.00

$76.50 $75.50

too high correct

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