Problem Solving

Lauren Wil iams

 Texas Essential Knowledge and Skil s
• Number and operations. The student applies mathematical process standards to develop an understanding of addition and
subtraction situations in order to solve problems. The student is expected to:
• (A) model the action of joining to represent addition and the action of separating to represent subtraction;
• (B) solve word problems using objects and drawings to find sums up to 10 and differences within 10; and
• (C) explain the strategies used to solve problems involving adding and subtracting within 10 using spoken words, concrete
and pictorial models, and number sentences.
• The primary focal areas in Kindergarten are understanding counting and cardinality, understanding addition as joining and
subtraction as separating, and comparing objects by measurable attributes.
• (B) Students use meanings of numbers to create strategies for solving problems and responding to practical situations
involving addition and subtraction.
Problem
• A rubber ball rebounds to half the height it drops. If the ball is dropped from a rooftop 18 m above
the ground, what is the total distance traveled by the time it hits the ground the third time?
a. 31.5 m
b. 40.5 m
c. 45 m
d. 63 m
How to work out the problem
• The house is 18 m tall.

18 m
How to work out the problem
• The rubber ball rebounds half the height it drops. So since it is dropping from 18 m and it
rebounds half it wil only go up 9 m
• 18/2 = 9 m
9m
How to work out the problem
• The ball hits the ground another time. To hit a total of 3 times! Since the last height of the ball was
9 m you wil divide that by half to get 4.5 m
• 9/2 = 4.5 m 18 m
4.5 m
How to work out the problem
• The problem wants to know the total distance traveled by the ball.

9 m
54. m

Make sure you remember the ball bouncing up!

How to work out the problem
• Now you are going to add all the distance the ball traveled together!

18 + 9 + 9 + 4.5 + 4.5 = ?
How to work out the problem
• The answer that you should get is c. 45 m

18 + 9 + 9 + 4.5 + 4.5 = 45 m