PROBLEM

SOLVING
MRS. BYRNE
TEKS:
• (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;
PROBLEM SOLVING:
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
Let’s take a look at what the question is asking.

#1
#2
#3
 STEP 1:
TAKE APART THE PROBLEM
How far did the ball drop the first time?
• The answer: 18 m
• Since the ball was dropped from 18 meters, the ball hit the ground at the same distance.

Answer is: 18m

 STEP 2:
HOW HIGH DID THE BALL BOUNCE THE 2ND TIME?

• If the ball only rebounds half of the height the ball is dropped from, how high did the ball
bounce the second time?
18 m

18 2= 9m
?

Answer is: 9m
STEP 3:
HOW HIGH DID THE BALL BOUNCE THE 3RD TIME?

18m 9 2= 4.5
Answer is: 4.5m

?
So, what do we know?
#1
#2
#3
 STEP 4:
MAKE AN EQUATION AND SOLVE THE PROBLEM
• 1. The ball was dropped from the roof to the ground at 18m. So the first part of the equation is 18m.
• 2. Since the ball went up only half of the original height, the ball bounced back up at 9m and also came down at an
equal distance of 9m.
• 3. On the third bounce the ball went up 4.5 and came down at 4.5.

• What is the total distance traveled by the time it hits the ground the
third time?

18m + 9m + 9m + 4.5m + 4.5m = c.45m

Step: 1 Step: 2 Step: 3