Alison Lord

Homework 4
PROBLEM #1
Original Problem:
Toby and his dad are building a doghouse. They need to cut a board that is 2/3 yard long into 1/6 yard
pieces. How many 1/6 yard pieces can they cut?
Content Standard:
Practice Standard(s):

CC.6.NS.1
MP.1, MP.4, MP.6

Non-routine version:
Toby and his dad are building a doghouse that is 4 yards by 3 yards by 5 yards. They have a board that is
2
/3 yard long, but need to cut it into 1/6 yard sections. How many 1/6 yard sections can they cut?
Solutions:

#1: 2/3 1/6 = 22/32 1/6 = 4/6 1/6 = 4

#2:
1
1

/3

/6

/3

/6

Answer:

/6

/6

They can cut 4 sections that are 1/6 yard long.

Explanation:
I changed this problem by adding some extraneous information which students would need to
recognize as unnecessary. The original problem was already somewhat non-routine because there were
multiple ways to solve it (as shown in the solutions section). However, the book only demonstrates one
possibility for solving.
The solutions I used were first the standard algorithm for dividing fractions. First I found a
common denominator, then proceeded with my division and found 4 to be the answer. In my second

Alison Lord
Homework 4
solution, I utilized a box model to divide my fractions up. My answer was the number of 1/6ths I wound
up with (4).
Problem #2
Original Problem:
Sarah painted a chalkboard on her wall. She added a wooden frame when it was finished. The total
area of the chalkboard and frame is 25,200 square centimeters. If the chalkboard and frame together
are 180 centimeters wide, what is their height?
Content Standard:
Practice Standard(s):

CC.6.NS.2
MP.1, MP.2, MP.4, MP.6

Non-Routine Problem:
Sarah painted a chalkboard on her wall and added a wooden frame when it was finished. The area of
the chalkboard and frame is 25,200 square centimeters. The width of the frame and chalkboard is 180
centimeters.
a.
b.
c.
d.

What is the height of both the chalkboard and frame?

If the frame is 3 centimeters wide, what is the height of just the chalkboard?
What is the width of just the chalkboard?
What is the total area of just the chalkboard?

Solutions:

#1:
a. 25,200 180 = 140

The height of both chalkboard and frame is 140 cm.

This is done through the standard long division algorithm (Im unable to show all that in
word).
b. 140 2(3) = 134
c. 180 2(3) = 174
d. 134 174 = 23,316

The height of just the chalkboard is 134 cm.

The width of just the chalkboard is 174 cm.
The area of just the chalkboard is 23,316 cm2

#2:
180 cm
Total area = 25,200 cm2
140 cm

Alison Lord
Homework 4
a.
b.
c.
d.

25,200 180 = 140

The height of both the chalkboard and frame is 140 cm.
140 3 3 = 134
The height of just the chalkboard is 134 cm.
180 3 3 = 174
The width of just the chalkboard is 174 cm.
174 134
(100 100) + (100 30) + (100 4) = 10,000 + 3,000 + 400 = 13,400
(70 100) + (70 30) + (70 4) = 7,000 + 2,100 + 280 = 9,380
(4 100) + (4 30) + (4 4) = 400 + 120 + 16 = 536
13,400 + 9,380 + 536 = 23,316
The area of just the chalkboard is 23,316 cm2

Explanation:
I changed this problem to be non-routine by creating a sequence of steps in order to find a
more in depth understanding of multi-digit division and multiplication. The students are now faced with
a series of questions as opposed to just one straightforward division question.
In solving, I first used just the basic algorithms. The second method I used a drawing of the
problem, as well as the extended form for multiplication. Another variation for solving would be to
solve each portion in a different order. The only part that would be necessary to stay in the same place
is part d.