Watch: Solving maths problems
When you have a number problem to solve:
- highlight the important information
- Look out for key words: total, sum, difference, reduce. This will help you work out what to do.
- make an estimate first
- check your answer
What's wrong? Do you think you might have been short changed?
How did you know he'd given you the wrong change?
Oh yeah? Let's see your problem solving strategy then!
So, you highlighted the important information first.
You bought 12 hands and they were 60 pence each, and you paid with a £20 note?
So… 12 hands at 60 pence, that's 720 pence.
That would be easier if we knew the answer in pounds, not pence.
We divide by 100 to get £7.20. And to work out how much change you should've got, £7.20 subtracted from £20 is…
£12.80? I was right behind you…
So how much change did he give you?
Oh.
Activity
Teaching resources
Looking for more teaching resources? This series of short animated films follows the adventures of Olivia and Hassan as they're challenged with maths problems to find their way through Hypatia's mathematical maze.
BBC Teach has thousands of free, curriculum-linked resources to help deliver lessons - all arranged by subject and age group.
Play Guardians: Defenders of Mathematica to get ready for SATs. game
In this game, use the times tables and more maths skills to defeat monsters and reclaim the Kingdom.
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