Finding Information to Solve Problems
Grade 4 students practice identifying relevant versus irrelevant information in word problems in Saxon Math Intermediate 4. Solving a multi-step problem requires reading for key numbers and ignoring distractors. When Maria saves 15 dollars a week and already has 70 dollars toward a 250-dollar bike, the 18 speeds on her friend Leo bike is irrelevant. Students first find how much more is needed (250 minus 70 = 180 dollars), then divide by the weekly rate (180 divided by 15 = 12 weeks). This Chapter 8 skill develops critical reading and mathematical reasoning for word problems.
Key Concepts
New Concept Part of the problem solving process is finding the information needed to solve a problem.
What’s next Next, you will practice extracting the necessary information from paragraphs, tables, and diagrams to solve various word problems.
Common Questions
How do you identify important information in a word problem?
Read the problem and identify the specific question being asked. Then scan for numbers and facts that directly help answer that question. Any information that does not contribute to the calculation is extraneous.
How do you solve a multi-step word problem?
Break it into steps. First identify what the question asks, then find the needed values. For Maria saving for a bike: step 1 is finding the remaining amount needed (250 minus 70 = 180), and step 2 is dividing by the weekly savings rate (180 divided by 15 = 12 weeks).
What is extraneous information in a word problem?
Extraneous information is data included in the problem that is not needed to solve it. In the bike problem, the fact that Leo has an 18-speed bike has nothing to do with how many weeks Maria needs to save.
How do you avoid using extra numbers in a word problem?
After reading the problem, write down only the numbers tied to the question. Ask for each number: does this help me find the answer? If not, ignore it.
What Saxon Math chapter teaches finding information to solve problems?
Finding information to solve problems is covered in Saxon Math Intermediate 4, Chapter 8 (Lessons 71-80), as a problem-solving strategy for identifying relevant data.