Lesson Plan # 14 - Word Problem Solving,
Translating Word Phrases:

  1. (5 min) Mental Math
    1. Start with 125, multiply by 10, then subtract 50 [1200]
    2. What is the decimal for 526 divided by 100? [5.26]
    3. What is the area of a triangle whose base is 9 inches and whose height is 18 inches? [81 sq. in.]
    4. What is the perimeter of a rectangle whose sides are 3 1/2 feet and 4 1/2 feet? [16 feet]
    5. What is 600 times 600? [360,000]

  2. (5 min) Review of homework #13 (<= 3 problems)

  3. (10 min) Discuss word phrases and word problems:

    1. (5 min) Discuss these phrases and the expressions they represent:
      Phrase Expression
      three times a number 3x
      half of a number x/2
      one minus three times a number 1 - 3x
      a number increased by 5 x + 5
      a number decreased by 8 x - 8
    2. (5 min) Discuss word equations. Discuss the fact that the following phrases are equal ("=") signs:
      • "you get ..."
      • "the result is ..."
      • "is ..."

      Discuss these sentences and the equations they represent:
      English sentence Equation
      I subtract one from my number and I get five. x - 1 = 5
      I multiply my number by 4 and I get 8. 4x = 8
      I take half of my number, decrease it by 6 and the result is 4. x/2 - 6 = 4

    3. After this discussion, pass out the word phrases handout along with the in-class exercise.

  4. (Remainder of class) In-class Exercise.

  5. Hand out homework as students successfully complete the in-class exercise.