The C.U.B.E. Method
C.U.B.E. is an acronym that stands for the following word problem solving steps:
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U.P.S. Check
U.P.S. Check is another acronym that represents the following steps of a problem solving strategy:
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The example above uses the same word problem that was used in the C.U.B.E. strategy, but shows how the same word problem can be understood and worked with using the U.P.S. Check. You can do this by simply folding a paper into four sections and labeling each box.
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Check for Vocabulary Signposts
This is not a strategy that will guide you through an entire problem, but by identifying key vocabulary words, you can tend to gauge where a problem is going. There are certain words that hint at one of the four main number operations, which are addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Refer to the image on the left, which provides some of the most popular vocabulary signposts.
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Sketch It Out!
Break down a word problem and view it step by step (or sentence by sentence). For each step, make a sketch of what the word problem is saying. Often times, sketching the problem will lead you directly to the answer. For example, if we again used the word problem presented in the C.U.B.E. strategy, we could sketch out each step. Refer to the image on the right to see how this may work.
NOTE: This strategy may not be fitting for all word problems. Use this strategy when necessary and as needed. |
As you can see, this sketch represents that Mr. Johnson originally started out with 21 smiling students and then one day seven students were absent, which is represented by the smiley faces with the strike across them, The remaining smiley faces represent the students who were present in the classroom and are surrounded by the trapezoid shape.
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