Writing Math
Word Problems
Writing word problems for math seems like a whole new language, doesn't it? Well, it's not that bad once you get used to it! Here are some easy translations for you:

 
 
In a math word problem this phrase: usually means you will need to: 
"How many more?" subtract the smaller number from the larger number
"How many altogether?" add 
"What is the difference?" subtract the smaller number from the larger number
"How many are left?" subtract the smaller number from the larger number
"each" in a problem with the phrase  "How many altogether or total" multiply
"each" as in "How many do they each have?" divide
"least" select the lowest value (number)
"most" select the highest value (number)
Find the sum or the total add
Find the product multiply
Find the difference subtract
Find the quotient divide

Activity: Go to The Desert Trail or The Hi Desert Star. Select a few articles from the sports pages and create your own math word problems. Create 8 word problems of your own. (Two addition, 2 subtraction, two multiplication, 2 division) using the information you find in the sports pages.  Exchange papers with a partner and solve each other's word problems. Here are two examples:
 

The Wildcats played football against The Trojans. The Trojans scored 21 points. The Wildcats scored 10 points. How many more points than the Wildcats did the Trojans score?

If a touchdown and the extra point are worth 7 points each, How many touchdowns with extra points did the Trojans score?