5-D Process Problem

Question

Complete the 5D Process problems:

Ms. Pacheco, Mr. Edwards, and Mr. Richards are three math teachers at Turner Middle School.  

Ms. Pacheco is three years older than Mr. Richards.  

Mr. Edwards is twice as old as Mr. Richards.  

The sum of Mr. Richards’ age and Mr. Edwards’ age is 81.  

a) How old is each person? 

b) Which subject in the problem is represented by x in your equation?

My answers:

Ms. Pacheco = 30 years old

Mr. Edwards = 54 years old

Mr. Richards = 27 years old

Answer 1

Ms. Pacheco, Mr. Edwards, and Mr. Richards are three math teachers at Turner Middle School.

Ms. Pacheco is three years older than Mr. Richards. Mr. Edwards is twice as old as Mr. Richards.

The sum of Mr. Richards' age and Mr. Edwards' age is 81. How old is each person?

For those teachers who only work with regular ed. students, I would never suggest you modify your lessons; however, for those teachers who must accommodate lessons for students, this may help. This process allows one to accommodate, rather than modify, a math word problem. For students who struggle with dyslexia, word problems can be impossible. Therefore, it sometimes helps to simply remove the words. Begin by recreating the problem with number sentences rather than word sentences. Start by listing the numbers, and then move up one line and repeat the process until all the numbers are listed. See the example below.

3

+3

2x

81

How old is each person?

Now - move up one line at a time and solve - don't write)

3 (teachers)

+3 (Ms. Pacheco is older than Mr. Richards)

2x (Mr. Edwards is twice as old as Mr. Richards)

81 (sum of Mr. Richards' and Mr. Edwards' ages)

Y (81 divided by 3 teachers)

Therefore:

Y = 27

Ms. Pacheco 27 + 3 = 30

Mr. Edwards 27 x 2 = 54

Mr. Richards is 27

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

r represents Mr. Richar's age

r + 3 represents Mr. Pacheco's age

2r represents Mr. Edward's age

r + 2r represents the sum of Mr. Richard's and Mr. Edward's age

3r = 81

r = 27