Grade 5 · Math · Lesson 30

Problem-solving Strategies

Every word problem can be tackled with the same four steps: Understand, Plan, Solve, and Check. The Plan step is where you pick a strategy. Some problems are easier to draw, some are easier in a table, and some are easier when you work backward from the answer. Picking the right strategy makes the work shorter and the answer easier to trust.

What this lesson teaches

1Apply the four problem-solving steps: Understand, Plan, Solve, and Check
2Match a math problem to the strategy that fits it best
3Solve multi-step word problems by carrying out a chosen strategy
4Check answers by estimating or by working backward from the result

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