Mathematician’s Toolbox

Your mathematician’s strategy toolbox includes:

• Do I know a similar problem?
• Guess, check and improve
• Try a simpler problem
• Write an equation
• Make a list or table
• Work backwards
• Act it out
• Draw a picture or graph
• Make a model
• Look for a pattern
• Try all possibilities
• Seek an exception
• Break the problem into smaller parts
• and ……………………….

If one way doesn’t work I just start again another way.

For more tips on Working Mathematically: The Process go to the Maths 300 webpage.

How to read and respond to a word based maths problem:

• make your prediction
• list and work through the things you need to clarify such as words , phrases or concepts (include relevant facts and details)
• identify the the BIG question
• decide how you are going to go about solving the problem (include the strategy/ies from the Mathematician’s Toolbox you use
• summarise the process you just went through, remember to word it so you include the initial question with your answer