How to Solve Math Word Problems: A Strategy That Works

Why Word Problems Are Hard

Word problems require:

Reading comprehension
Identifying relevant information
Choosing the right operation
Setting up the calculation
Computing the answer
Checking if it makes sense

That's a lot of steps! No wonder kids struggle.

The CUBES Strategy

Teach this systematic approach:

C - Circle the numbers U - Underline the question B - Box key words (total, difference, each, etc.) E - Evaluate: What operation do I need? S - Solve and check

Key Words (Use Carefully)

These words OFTEN (but not always) indicate:

Addition: total, sum, altogether, combined, in all, both Subtraction: difference, left, remain, fewer, less than Multiplication: each, every, per, times, groups of Division: share equally, split, per person, how many groups

Warning: Key words can be misleading! "How many more" could be addition or subtraction depending on context. Always think about what's happening in the story.

Draw a Picture

Visualization helps enormously:

Draw the objects in the problem
Use bar models to represent quantities
Sketch a number line for comparison problems

Estimate First

Before calculating:

Round the numbers
Get a rough answer
This helps catch wild errors

Example: 48 + 73

Estimate: 50 + 70 = 120
Actual: 121
If you got 1,021, you'd know something's wrong!

Check Your Answer

Ask: "Does this make sense?"

Re-read the question
Plug your answer back in
Is the answer reasonable?

Types of Word Problems

Join/Combine: Putting amounts together Separate/Take away: Removing an amount Part-Part-Whole: Finding a missing part Compare: Finding how much more or less Equal groups: Multiplication and division

Practice Makes Progress

Regular practice builds confidence: