Algebra Readiness Made Easy Grade 5

A

L

G

E

B

RA

READ IN E S S

5

Dollar Dilemma

Overview

Students interpret mathematical relationships and work backward through sets of clues

to determine costs of various animal accessories.

Algebra

Interpret quantitative relationships • Write and solve equations

Problem-Solving Strategies

Eliminate candidates from a list • Use logical reasoning

Related Math Skills

Compute fractional parts of whole numbers of dollars (¹ ⁄₂,¹ ⁄₃,¹ ⁄₄,¹ ⁄₅,¹ ⁄₆,¹ ⁄₁₀)

Math Language

More than • Less than • ¹ ⁄₂,¹ ⁄₃,¹ ⁄₄,¹ ⁄₅,¹ ⁄₆,¹ ⁄₁₀ • Twice as much •

Half as much

Introducing the Problem Set

Make photocopies of “Solve the Problem: Dollar Dilemma” (page 22) and distribute

to students. Have students work in pairs, encouraging them to discuss strategies they

might use to solve the problem. You may want to walk around and listen in on some

of their discussions. After a few minutes, display the problem on the board (or on the

overhead if you made a transparency) and use the following questions to guide a

whole-class discussion on how to solve the problem:

Which fact did Ima use first? (Fact D)Why did Ima start with that fact?(Fact D is the

only fact that gives the cost of one cat’s earphones. All other facts need more information than

is given. Knowing that Smudge’s earphones cost $10, the cost of Tigger’s earphones can be

computed, and so on.)

What is the cost of Tigger’s earphones? ($2)How did you figure out the cost of

Tigger’s earphones? (¹ ⁄₅x 10 =$2)

5