Problem Solving

Thalya Torres
 TEKS

111.5 Grade 3, Adopted 2012:

B. Knowledge and Skills
(1) Mathematical process standards. The student uses mathematical processes to acquire and
demonstrate mathematical understanding. The student is expected to:
(D) communicate mathematical ideas, reasoning, and their implications using multiple representations,
including symbols, diagrams, graphs, and language as appropriate;
(E) create and use representations to organize, record, and communicate mathematical ideas

(5) Algebraic reasoning. The student applies mathematical process standards to analyze and create
patterns and relationships. The student is expected to
(A) represent one- and two-step problems involving addition and subtraction of whole numbers to 1,000 using
pictorial models, number lines, and equations;

http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tac/chapter111/ch111a.html
The Problem

A rubber ball rebounds to half the height it drops. If the ball is dropped from a rooftop 18
meters off the ground, what is the total distance traveled by the time it hits the ground the
third time?
A. 31.5 meters
B. 40.5 meters
C. 45 meters
D. 63 meters
Step 1

The ball drops 18 meters the first time, and it will rebound to half the height. So our first
steps will look like this:
X=18
X+0.5X= distance traveled through first rebound
(18)+0.5(18)=distance 18 m
18+9= 27 9m
Step 2

Now that weve found the distance for the initial drop plus the first rebound, we have to
find the distance of the second rebound. This will look like the following:
X=9 (because this is the height the ball is now falling from)
X+0.5X=distance of second fall + second rebound
(9)+0.5(9)= distance
9+4.5=13.5 m

9m
4.5 m
Step 3

Now we are finding the total distance the ball has traveled. Remember, we are only
counting the distance the ball covers by the time it hits the ground a third time. We have
found:
The initial drop- 18 m
The first rebound- 9 m
The second fall- 9 m
The second rebound- 4.5 m
And now the ball is dropping for the last time to hit the ground for the third time. So that
distance will be 4.5 m as well.
Step 3 Continued

Now we add all of the distances together to find the total distance covered.
18+9+9+4.5+4.5= total distance
18+18+9= total distance
36+9= total distance
45 meters= total distance
So our answer is C, 45 meters!
18 m
9m 9m
4.5 m 4.5 m