Thread: I need to create some math problems...

Hi MHF,

This is my first time posting and I really appreciate your assistance. So here's what I'm trying to do:

* Create a situation (story).

* Write a question about this situation so that solving the equation will give you the answer to your question. State clearly what the variable in the equation represents in the situation.

* Solve the equation to answer your question.


Here's a few I'm working on and your input, thoughts, and examples would be helpful as I write my own:

1.) 4a=12

2.) r + 5 = 20

3.) 2n + 1 = 11

Something like this?

"Freddie only had twelve shgyp. He really wanted to buy some flags to hang out of his car as he hurtled round the streets blowing his horn to celebrate his local football team scoring a goal. However, those flags cost three shgyp each. Now ... could he buy enough flags so that he could hang one out of each of the four windows of his car?"

Originally Posted by Matt Westwood

Something like this?

"Freddie only had twelve shgyp. He really wanted to buy some flags to hang out of his car as he hurtled round the streets blowing his horn to celebrate his local football team scoring a goal. However, those flags cost three shgyp each. Now ... could he buy enough flags so that he could hang one out of each of the four windows of his car?"

I think that's sort of what I'm looking for. I've solved problems like these before before, I just get frustrated trying to make them. gerr...

r+5 = 20 could be wordified by setting up a giving-of-change operation in a shop: Fred bought a widget for 20 baht and got 5 baht back - how much was the widget?

2n+1=11 could be done by: Mrs. Fredkins had eleven cakes which she wanted to share equally between her two offspring. Any left over she would have herself, and to blazes with her waistline. How many did her children get each?

(Personal note: what course are you doing that demands you make up these problems? Is it teacher training or something? Sorry, I'm just impolitely curious!)