Elementary Test Prep Math 4 (Grade 3) Consider Other Strategies

Consider Other Strategies
Lesson
Topic Index | Grade 3 Math | Elementary Test Prep | StudyZone

There is often more than one way to solve a problem.
After solving a math problem,
take a look at other ways the problem could be solved.

Kristen read a math problem:
       "Becky was playing golf. She had 4
         strokes on each of the first 3 holes.
         Then she had 3 strokes on the next
         2 holes. What was her score after 5
         holes?"

Kristen decided to solve the problem by
multiplying and adding.
        4 x 3 = 12              3 x 2 = 6
                      12 + 6 = 18
       Becky had a score of 18 strokes.

Kristen noticed that two of her
classmates solved the problem in a
different way.
           Katie decided to solve the
           problem by adding the score on
           each hole.
             4 + 4 + 4 + 3 + 3 = 18 strokes

           Kelly solved the problem by
           drawing a picture.
hole 1 hole 2
hole 3 hole 4
hole 5
         Then, Kelly counted the pictures
           to get 18 strokes.

Kristen read another problem:
      "Bonnie collects stickers. One page
       has 48 stickers. If there are 4 rows
       of stickers on the page, how many are
       in each row?"

Kristen decided to solve the problem by
dividing.

48 ÷ 4 = 12 stickers

Kristen asked her friends how they
solved the problem.
Katie said she drew a picture.

          Kelly said she used counters to
          solve the problem. She used 48
          counters and divided them into 4
          equal groups.



           They both found 12 stickers
           in each group.

Kristen looked at one more problem:
      "A stick of butter weighs 4 oz. If each
        box of butter contains 4 sticks and
        Jan bought 2 boxes of butter, how
        much did the butter weigh in ounces?"

Kristen decided to make a model of the
problem.

4 oz 4 oz 4 oz 4 oz

                4 oz     4 oz     4 oz     4 oz

           The butter weighed 32 oz.

Kristen shared her ideas with
Katie and Kelly.

        Katie stated that she could
        solve the problem by multiplying.

          4 x 4 x 2 = 32 oz

        Kelly pointed out that multiplying is
        the same as adding groups of
        numbers.
           4 + 4 + 4 + 4 = 16 (1st box of butter)
           4 + 4 + 4 + 4 = 16 (2nd box of butter)
                                +
                                    32 oz

Remember:

There is more that one way to solve a problem.

Click on the pencil for practice.

Topic Index | Grade 3 Math | Elementary Test Prep | StudyZone