Word problems are the most difficult part of any math course –- and the most important to both the SATs and other standardized tests. This book teaches proven methods for analyzing and solving any type of math word problem.
In every area of mathematics, you will encounter ‘‘word’’ problems. Some
students are very good at solving word problems while others are not. When
teaching word problems in prealgebra and algebra, I often hear ‘‘I don’t
know where to begin,’’ or ‘‘I have never been able to solve word problems.’’
A great deal has been written about solving word problems. A Hungarian
mathematician, George Polya, did much in the area of problem solving.
His book, entitled How To Solve It, has been translated into at least 17 languages,
and it explains the basic steps of problem solving. These steps are
explained next.