PROBLEM SOLVING BY: BERENICE BUENTELLO

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Mathematical process standards. The student uses mathematical processes to acquire

and demonstrate mathematical understanding. The student is expected to:
use a problem-solving model that incorporates analyzing given information,
formulating a plan or strategy, determining a solution, justifying the solution, and
evaluating the problem-solving process and the reasonableness of the solution;
select tools, including real objects, manipulatives, paper and pencil, and technology
as appropriate, and techniques, including mental math, estimation, and number
sense as appropriate, to solve problems;
communicate mathematical ideas, reasoning, and their implications using multiple
representations, including symbols, diagrams, graphs, and language as appropriate;
create and use representations to organize, record, and communicate mathematical
ideas;
analyze mathematical relationships to connect and communicate mathematical
ideas; and
display, explain, and justify mathematical ideas and arguments using precise
mathematical language in written or oral communication.
Data analysis. The student applies mathematical process standards to solve problems
by collecting, organizing, displaying, and interpreting data. The student is expected to:
represent data on a frequency table, dot plot, or stem-and-leaf plot marked with
whole numbers and fractions; and

A rubber ball rebounds to half the height it drops. If the ball is dropped
from a rooftop 18 m above the ground, what is the total distance
traveled by the time it hits the ground the third time?
a. 31.5 m
b. 40.5 m
c. 45 m
d. 63 m
Hummmm.let
s review the
word problem
strategies

A rubber ball rebounds to half the height it drops. If the ball is dropped from a
rooftop 18 m above the ground, what is the total distance traveled by the time it hits
the ground the third time?
Step 1:
Begin by identifying key words in the word problem, for instance the
words total distance suggest we will be adding distance numbers
for a grand total.
Step 2:
The first number to include to our addition of total distance is 18
since its the distance from when the ball is first dropped from the
roof in to the ground
18 meters

First drop from roof

18 m

A rubber ball rebounds to half the height it drops. If the ball is dropped from a
rooftop 18 m above the ground, what is the total distance traveled by the time it hits
the ground the third time?

Step 3:
After its first drop, the ball bounces back halfway up of its original
height of 18. Half of 18 is 9; that is our second amount to add.
Step 4:
Since our ball is now at 9 m up, it must fall down 9 m before it hits
the ground again. Add an additional 9m to account the distance for
it falling back down.

First drop from roof

18

Bounce back up half the height of first drop

Drop back down to the ground from halfway

point

A rubber ball rebounds to half the height it drops. If the ball is dropped from a
rooftop 18 m above the ground, what is the total distance traveled by the time it hits
the ground the third time?

Step 5:
Notice that the problem asks for the total distance traveled after it hits
the ground a third time. So far we have accounted for 2 ground hits; the
original drop of 18m is the first ground hit, then bounces back way to
9m, drop back down 9m and hits the ground again for a second time. The
ball now bounces back up half the height of 9m which is 4.5m, this is the
next amount to add to our total distance.

First drop from the roof

18

Bounce back up half the height of first drop

Drop back down to the ground from halfway

point

Bounce back up half the height of the halfway

point

4.5

A rubber ball rebounds to half the height it drops. If the ball is dropped from a
rooftop 18 m above the ground, what is the total distance traveled by the time it hits
the ground the third time?

Step 6:
From 4.5m; the ball must drop the same distance of 4.5m down to
the ground for the third and last hit. This is the last amount to add
to obtain our total distance.

First drop from the roof

18

Bounce back up half the height of first drop

Drop back down to the ground from halfway point

Bounce back up half the height of the halfway

point

4.5

Drop back down to the ground for the third hit

4.5

The ball falls down 18 meters and hits the ground first. Then
it bounces back to height 9 m, falls down 9 m, and hits the
ground the second time. Then it bounces back to height 4.5 m,
and falls down 4.5 m to hit the ground the third time.
The total distance traveled is 18 + 9 + 9 + 4.5+4.5 = 45 m.

Created for Mrs.Petty