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Problem Solving Technique
The general problem solving technique is the 7 step approach in the
first column. In the column at the right, we will do a sample problem,
following the steps at the left.
Sample Problem #1. The length of a rectangle is 1 inch less than
twice the width. The perimeter is 28 inches. Find the dimensions of the
rectangle.
Sample Problem #2. Tom earns a salary of $475 per week, plus a commission
of 4% of his sales. If his total earnings one week were $520, what were
his sales for that week?
| # | Steps to Solve Problem | Actual Problem |
| 1 | Read the problem. List the given information | Total earnings for week: $520. His salary is calculated like this: 475+.04*weekly sales |
| 2 | What is to be found? Introduce a variable and state what the variable represents. Draw a figure or use a table if appropriate. | Find Tom's sales for the week |
| 3 | Write an equation. |
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| 4 | Solve the equation. |
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| 5 | Does the answer seem reasonable? Have you answered the question stated in the problem? | Yes it does. If you figure that he earned $45 more than his salary, and 4% of $1125 is 45 |
| 6 | Check your answer to the equation in the original problem. | 475+.04*1125=520 It checks. |
| 7 | State the solution to the problem. | Tom had sales of $1125 this week. |
