Word problems
Solving word problems can be one of the most challenging parts of algebra.
In the article Word Problems, there are some hints. The first thing to keep in mind is that reading word problems, or math in general, is not like reading your favorite novel. You really need to do some work along the way. And that makes it much more challenging.
Our Honors Algebra course includes some truly challenging word problems. We do not do these word problems to provide "real world" applications of algebra. The real reason for algebra word problems is to help students learn to look beyond the surface features of a problem to the deep concepts beneath.
Algebra word problems that look very different may be basically the same below the surface. Those ubiquitous coin problems are really the same as mixture problems, for example. And this idea is everywhere. So learning these common patterns may help students crack open other problems later.
In the article Word Problems, there are some hints. The first thing to keep in mind is that reading word problems, or math in general, is not like reading your favorite novel. You really need to do some work along the way. And that makes it much more challenging.
Our Honors Algebra course includes some truly challenging word problems. We do not do these word problems to provide "real world" applications of algebra. The real reason for algebra word problems is to help students learn to look beyond the surface features of a problem to the deep concepts beneath.
Algebra word problems that look very different may be basically the same below the surface. Those ubiquitous coin problems are really the same as mixture problems, for example. And this idea is everywhere. So learning these common patterns may help students crack open other problems later.
