help solving math problems

Question

I'm trying to teach my 9 year old grand sound how to solve a math problems the problem I'm having is the school provides worksheets but nothing to help show how to teach the concept.

Any help or suggestions on where to look will be greatly appreciated. The math problem is how many students in all chose mystery or science fiction? the table has the following information mystery had 9 students and science fiction had 12 students.

thanks for any input.

Answer 1

Through my experience at mathnasium, the 9 year old age area is not an easy age to teach mathematical concepts.

Q: "How many students in all chose mystery or science fiction? the table has the following information mystery had 9 students and science fiction had 12 students."

Let's break the question apart, first. You never eat your meal in one go, always small bites.

The question is asking "how many", "all", and "or". It doesn't matter what genres they are, it doesnt change the mathematical concept.

If the total number of students is 9+12, which is 21 (all), then each of students must have chosen either mystery or sci-fi (since I do not have the entire question and context, some of the students may have chosen both, they could be asking for a percentage, but this is my $0.02)

A good piece of advice is relating it to a topic/genre they like. Good luck!

Answer 2

Hi Charles,

Sorry to hear that your school is not being more helpful here. I have been there before myself as an educator, many times.

Since 9 students chose mystery and 12 students chose science fiction, one of several answers come to mind:

*3 more students chose science fiction than mystery since 12 - 9 = 3

*21 students chose science fiction and mystery total since 12 + 9 = 21

*Also, if they are asking how many students chose mystery only, the answer would be 9.

*And in terms of how many students chose science fiction only, the answer would be 12.

Please let me know if this helps at all! Good luck with completing the math assignment with your grandson!