Word Problem Wednesday – Passengers

Word Problem Wednesday was such a hit, we’re going to continue through the year with one problem a month.

This week’s problem comes from Primary Mathematics Intensive Practice 6A published in 2004 by SingaporeMath.com Inc:

There were 75% more adult passengers than children on a bus.  After 1/2 of the children had gotten off at a bus stop, there were _______% more adults than children left on the bus.

Submit your solutions and we’ll post all interesting strategies.


The problem posted August 30th came from Primary Mathematics Challenging Word Problems 6 by Joseph D. Lee, published in 2006 by Panpac Education Private Limited.

The number of Jason’s cards and the number of Frederick’s cards are in the ratio of 5:8. The number of Frederick’s cards and the number of Steven’s cards are in the ratio of 4:3. If Jason has 18 fewer cards than Frederick, how many cards does Steven have?

Intrepid reader Shirly Davis sent in her solution:

Whew! How did you do?

Share:

Throwback Thursday – Direct from the classroom: Challenges & Successes with Singapore Math implementations

For our final post this summer, we thought it would be interesting to look at other challenges schools face in their adoptions. When I re-read a post from the past I always take away something different because I am in a different place with my own experience. Perhaps you are as well!


Direct from the classroom: Challenges & Successes with Singapore Math implementations

Originally published 12/1/2012

Some teacher challenges & successes with Singapore math one year or three months after adopting the program are below. Click to see larger images.

During follow-up in-services, I like to have teachers meet in grade level groups and spend time discussing the challenges and successes they have had thus far with their teaching of Singapore Math. Each grade level is then asked to list these challenges and successes on a poster and share with the group as a whole. This allows us time to compare and share lessons from the content fresh on their minds.

There is so much challenge the first year when implementing a new curriculum, it’s helpful to take a few moments to reflect on how many successes the teachers and students have had. These posters then guide subsequent teacher learning as we focus on the concepts that they are finding challenging.

 

 

 

 

Share:

Word Problem Wednesday – Cards

Summer’s here, but you’re missing your math? Don’t despair – we’ve got you covered. Check the site each week for one whopper of a word problem that’s sure to challenge!


Our final problem of the summer comes from Primary Mathematics Challenging Word Problems 6 by Joseph D. Lee, published in 2006 by Panpac Education Private Limited. 

The number of Jason’s cards and the number of Frederick’s cards are in the ratio of 5:8. The number of Frederick’s cards and the number of Steven’s cards are in the ratio of 4:3. If Jason has 18 fewer cards than Frederick, how many cards does Steven have?

Submit your solutions and we’ll post all interesting strategies next week.


Last week’s problem and solution:

Mr. Seow borrowed a certain amount from a bank, which charged him an interest of 3.5% per year. If he owed the bank $4347 at the end of the year, how much did he borrow from the bank?

Whew! How did you do?

Share:

Throwback Thursday – Bar Model Solutions – by Students

Over the summer, we thought it would be fun to run some of the most popular posts from the past. It’s always interesting to see how students’ minds work. When I re-read a post from the past I always take away something different because I am in a different place with my own experience. Perhaps you are as well!


Bar Model Solutions – by Students!

Originally published 4/12/2016

After the post on Assessing Bar Model Solutions went up, Beth Curran sent a message: “We just did that problem!” She agreed to share some student work:


boys and girls 2

boys and girls 3

boys and girls 5

And when the students didn’t draw a model:

boys and girls 4

I see this as a comparison problem:

thinking blocks

5 units -> 125 students
1 unit -> 125 ÷ 5 = 25
7 units for boys -> 7 x 25 = 175 boys in all

(That’s the Thinking Blocks Model Drawing tool that allows you to insert your own word problems and solve – or you can use the pre-made questions!)

 

Share:

Word Problem Wednesday – Mr. Seow

Summer’s here, but you’re missing your math? Don’t despair – we’ve got you covered. Check the site each week for one whopper of a word problem that’s sure to challenge!


This week’s problem comes from Visible Thinking in Mathematics 5B by Ammiel Wan and Chelsia Loh, published in 2011 by Marshall Cavendish International (Singapore) Private Limited. 

Mr. Seow borrowed a certain amount from a bank, which charged him an interest of 3.5% per year. If he owed the bank $4347 at the end of the year, how much did he borrow from the bank?

Submit your solutions and we’ll post all interesting strategies next week.


Last week’s problem and solution:

Cynthia had $16.75. She withdrew more cash from an ATM before shopping. After spending $17.50 on a box of cookies and $23.40 on a box of chocolates, she had $35.85 left. How much money did she withdraw from the ATM?

Whew! How did you do?

Share: