Chapter 3

Chapter 3, Part II -
Solving Linear Equations, Word Problems

The RAP strategy for problem solving:

R Read the problem.

- Circle the words that ask you what to find,

- Underline the pertinent information.

A Create Art that will help you envision the
situation.

- Art may be a drawing, a list, a chart, a
graph, etc.

P Develop a Plan for solving the problem

1) In using this strategy, a student will actually write the letters R A P on his/her paper.

2) When finished circling and underlining as directed in “R”, the student will check off the “R” that has been written.

3) Next to “A” will be some type of visual representation of the problem, one that makes sense to the student.

4) The Plan should not be the actual solution to the problem, but a brief list or recipe of what will be done.

5) Then, the actual solution follows.

EXAMPLE 1:

In Detroit the temperature is 69 degrees F and is rising at a rate of 2 degrees F per hour. In Atlanta the temperature is 84 degrees F and is falling at a rate of 3 degrees F per hour. If the temperatures continue to change at the same rates, how long will it be before the temperatures are the same?

1.) Read - Read the Problem, underline important information.

2.) Artwork - Create art work: (Fill in the chart.)

Hour	0	1	2	3	4	5
Detroit Temp.	69	21	23	75	77	79
Atlanta Temp.	34	81	78	75	72	69

3.) Plan: "I created a table with the temperatures if they were to increase and decrease as expected. Now, I need to look over the table and see at which time the temperatures match for both cities."

Finally, look at table and answer question:
It will take 3 hours before the temperatures are the same.

EXAMPLE 2:

A page of the school yearbook is 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches. The left and right margins are 1 inch and 2 1/2 inches respectively. The space between pictures is 1/2 inch. How wide can each picture be to fit 3 across the width of the page?
1.) Read: Read the problem, underline important information.
2.) Artwork: Create art work:
3.) Plan how to solve the problem: "I need to create a page with all the information underlined above. Then, figure out how much space is left over that pictures could fit into. Next, figure out how much page space 1/4" between the 3 pictures takes up and subtract that from what I had left for the width. Next I need to divide the amount of space left for pictures by the number of the pictures. If I do this and the # comes out uneven, I need to remember that I can't have a fraction of a picture, I need to round down to the closest whole #."
Finally, answer the question: The pictures can be 1.5" wide for 3 pictures to fit across the width of the page.

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