PROBLEM SOLVING

Elizabeth McCall
Texas Essential Assessment and Skills

■ §111.7. Grade 5, 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:
– (A) apply mathematics to problems arising in everyday life, society, and the workplace;
– (B) 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;
– (C) 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;
– (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;
– (F) analyze mathematical relationships to connect and communicate mathematical ideas; and
– (G) display, explain, and justify mathematical ideas and arguments using precise mathematical language in
written or oral communication.
Problem

■ "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
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?

18 + ½(18) + ¼(18) = 31.5m

1st bounce= 18m
2nd bounce= ½(18)= 9m
3rd bounce= ½(9)= 4.5m
1st bounce + 2nd bounce + 3rd bounce= 18+9+4.5= 31.5m
A rubber ball rebounds to half the height it drops. If the ball is dropped
from a rooftop 31.5 m above the ground, what is the total distance
traveled by the time it hits the ground the third time?

31.5 + ½(31.5) + ¼(31.5) = 55.125m

1st bounce= 31.5m
2nd bounce= ½(31.5)= 15.75m
3rd bounce= ½(15.75)= 7.875m
1st bounce + 2nd bounce + 3rd bounce= 31.5 + 15.75 + 7.875 = 55.125m
A rubber ball rebounds to half the height it drops. If the ball is dropped
from a rooftop 40.5m above the ground, what is the total distance
traveled by the time it hits the ground the third time?

40.5 + ½(40.5) + ¼(40.5) = 70.875m

1st bounce= 40.5m
2nd bounce= ½(40.5)= 20.25m
3rd bounce= ½(20.25)= 10.125m
1st bounce + 2nd bounce + 3rd bounce= 40.5 + 20.25 + 10.125 = 70.875m
A rubber ball rebounds to half the height it drops. If the ball is dropped
from a rooftop 45m above the ground, what is the total distance traveled
by the time it hits the ground the third time?

45 + ½(45) + ¼(45) = 78.75m

1st bounce= 45m
2nd bounce= ½(45)= 22.5m
3rd bounce= ½(22.5)= 11.25m
1st bounce + 2nd bounce + 3rd bounce= 45 + 22.5 + 11.25 = 78.75m
A rubber ball rebounds to half the height it drops. If the ball is dropped
from a rooftop 63m above the ground, what is the total distance traveled
by the time it hits the ground the third time?

63 + ½(63) + ¼(63) = 110.25m

1st bounce= 63m
2nd bounce= ½(63)= 31.5
3rd bounce= ½(31.5)= 15.75m
1st bounce + 2nd bounce + 3rd bounce= 63 + 31.5 + 15.75 = 110.25m
Explanation

1. For each bounce that happens the distance is cut in half. I first set up the equation
x+½(x)+¼(x), the first time is the first drop, the second drop is divided in half, the
third drop is half of the second drop, so its one fourth of the original drop.
2. Next, add all three distances together to get the total distance.