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Welcome! Today we will learn a super helpful five-step model to solve any tough problem with confidence.
When you face a tough math or real-world problem, do not just guess. We use a five-step model: analyze, plan, solve, justify, and evaluate.
First, we analyze the facts we have. Next, we make a plan and choose a strategy to solve it.
Then, we solve the problem. Finally, we justify our answer and evaluate if our final solution makes sense.
✏️ Worked example
A school bus has 12 rows of seats. Each row can hold 3 students. If 30 students board the bus, how many empty seats are left? Use the five-step model.
- 1. Analyze: We know there are 12 rows total. Each row holds 3 students. There are 30 students on the bus. We need to find the empty seats.
- 2. Plan: Find the total number of seats by multiplying rows by seats per row. Then, subtract the 30 students from that total.
- 3. Solve: 12 rows times 3 seats equals 36 total seats. Next, 36 total seats minus 30 students equals 6 empty seats.
- 4. Justify: We can check by working backward. 30 filled seats plus 6 empty seats equals 36 total seats. This matches our math.
- 5. Evaluate: The answer of 6 empty seats is reasonable because 30 is very close to the total capacity of 36.
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