The Investigation (Problem Solving) Process
- Read the problem and make sure you understand all the words and idea. Draw and label it with the given information.
- Identify what you are looking for.
- Name what you are looking for. Choose a variable to represent that quantity.
- Translate into an equation by writing the appropriate formula or model for the situation. Subsitute in the given information.
- Solve the equation using good algebra techniques.
- Check the answer in the problems and make sure us makes sense.
- Answer the question with a complete sentence.
Worked Example - Circumference of a Circle
1. Read
Read the problem. Draw the figure and label it with the given information.
2. Identify
Identify what you are looking for. The circumference of a circle
3. Name
Choose a variable to represent it. Let c - circumference of the circle
4. Translate.
Write the appropriate formula. Substitute.
𝐶=2𝜋𝑟
𝐶=2𝜋(2.5)
5. Solve the equation
Solve the equation
𝐶≈2(3.14)(2.5)
𝐶≈15 m
6. Check
Does the answer make sense? Yes. If we draw a square around the circle, its sides would be 5 m (twice the radius), so its perimeter would be 20 ft. This is slightly more than the circle's circumference, 15.7 m.
7. Answer
Answer the question with a complete sentence.
The area of the circle is 19.625 square metres.