There are a number of students who don’t find solving math problems easy, but there is a simple strategy that might make things clearer and so give you a little more confidence when next tackling something in your math class.

The RQWQCQ strategy is not only easy to remember, but also easy to apply.

Try it and see if it works for you.

Read the Problem                                                          The first thing to do is read the problem question through so that you understand what it is that’s required.

Failure to do this puts you at a disadvantage because the chances are that you’ll have either the wrong answer or the right answer in the wrong format. Read the problem carefully and you’ll at least have the right format.

Q is for Question 
Identify what the question is in the problem. Sometimes this could be clearly given, but occasionally you’ll need to find it within the words outlining the problem.

W is for Write 
Make a note of the facts required. A useful tip here is to put a line through any irrelevant facts within the problem so that you can see what’s left that’s important. Remember however that sometimes you’ll only be given relevant facts so this is where reading comes important so you can distinguish what’s essential to the solution of the problem and what’s not.

Q is for Question
This time the question is to identify what calculations or computations do I need to do in order to answer the question correctly

C is for Compute
Write up the problem and make the computations. Check your calculations for errors and make any corrections that are needed. Once you’ve done this, identify your final answer by circling or underlining it.

Q is for Question
The final question is to ask if the answer seems a feasible solution to the problem. If you find that it’s not because it doesn’t seem to relate to the facts given in the problem, then you need to go back to step 1 of the RQWQCQ to see if you get a different answer. Should you find that because of your answer to the final question you have to return to step 1, completely start again using none of the computations that you used to arrive at the first answer. Do this until you are either convinced that however odd it seems it is right, or you arrive at an answer that is more in line with the problem given.

By using this RQWQCQ strategy, together with the formulas you have been taught, you’ll find that you can logically solve any problem given to you in your math class.

The easy way to get kids to love doing their homework? Reading the directions to them in a funny voice! Studies at John Hopkins University found that students perform better on tests when the directions are humorous instead of straight-laced.

All answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:

Why did God make mothers?
1. She’s the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my Mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of ?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men’s bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

 Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?
1. We’re related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people’s moms like me.

What kind of little girl was your mom?

1. My Mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don’t know because I wasn’t there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mom eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that Mom didn’t have her thinking cap on.

 Who’s the boss at your house?
1. Mom doesn’t want to be boss, but she has to
because dad’s such a goof ball.
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What’s the difference between moms & dads? 1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller & stronger, but moms have all the real power ’cause that’s who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend’s.
4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your mom do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don’t do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mom perfect?   I really like this one!
1. On the inside she’s already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I’d diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I’d GET rid of that.
2. I’d make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.