Table of Contents
Introduction vii
Chapter 1 Taking the Problem Out of Word Problems 1
Four Steps to Word Problem Success 3
Step 1 Understand the Problem 4
Step 2 Plan a Strategy by Choosing the Operation 7
Multi-Step Problems 13
Chapter 2 Happy Whole Numbers 23
Whole Number Operations 25
Word Problems: Find the Information 29
Word Problems: Strategies for Solutions 35
Chapter 3 Daffy Decimals and Fun Fractions 61
Decimal Operations 63
Using Facts in a Display 71
Fraction Operations 73
Chapter 4 Rewarding Ratios and Rates, and Prize-Winning Proportions 103
Word Problems with Ratios 105
Word Problems with Rates 110
Word Problems with Proportions 115
Chapter 5 Perky Percents 133
Word Problems with Percents 135
Percent Change: Increase or Decrease 138
Find the Whole or Part When the Percent Is Known 144
Percent, Fraction, and Decimal Equivalents 148
An Interest in Interest 153
Chapter 6 Stupendous Statistics and Prime Probability 169
Word Problems with Statistics 171
The Three Fabulous Averages 176
The Range: A Measure of the Spread of the Data 178
What Are the Chances? Probability at a Glance 182
Chapter 7 Jumping Geometry Jubilee 195
Jubilee of Geometry Vocabulary 197
Word Problems with Geometry 199
Word Problems with Measurements 209
Triangles and the Pythagorean Theorem 214
Chapter 8 Enriching Equations and a Bit of Algebra 227
Solving Word Problems by Writing and Solving Linear Equations 229
The Balance Scale Model 232
Word Problems Solved by Solving Two Linear Equations 239
Chapter 9 A Potpourri of Practice Problems 255
Chapter 10 Interesting Internet Ideas 261
Index 277
