Every math problems that are discussed, handled and assigned, compels you to use the detailed methods of problem solving. Generally, math is learnt by performing several smaller problems. These smaller problems in the form of math examples are put together before you, so that you can solve bigger problems.
Certain problems easily put you on a fix, by providing more and more complications. However, one thing that you must remember before solving is recognizing the quantities and simple relationships between them. Children often manifest the difficulty in long informative solutions when they read a simple word problem. At that, time these math examples works best. These examples are like guiding star for the students.
What researchers are saying about concrete math examples?
The idea of teaching math using real life concrete examples may not help students to learn about subjects. The recent study led by Jennifer Kaminski, at Ohio State University’s Center for Cognitive Science has found that college students who learn the mathematical concepts with concrete examples fails to apply knowledge to new situations. However, this finding was criticized on several grounds. It is findings cast doubt on long standing belief in education.
These days it has been found that the math textbooks do not contain adequate math examples and lacks solid details. Therefore, research work and experimentation is still going on so that different type problems can be solved. This will provide the students with detailed examples at different degrees of difficulty.
Some examples of word problems
Look into some of the math examples related to word problems:
Henry has 7 marbles and Kenny has 5 marbles. How many do they have together? The keyword together in the problem tells us that probably addition is most needed. The quantities here are Henry’s marbles, Kenny’s marbles and total marbles. From this general relation between the quantities, it is easy to make a number sentence easily.
Take another math problem where Jenny and Kenny together have 37 marbles and Kenny has 15. How many does Jenny have? Seeing this you can naturally think that it deals with subtraction, but in most fundamental levels, it is all about addition and later subtraction. Here the relationship between the quantities is same.
The logic is simple – Jenny marbles added to Kenny’s marbles gives the total number of marbles. Using this kind of approach in elementary stages, you can help your children to set up equations easily.
Therefore, the idea of teaching math examples is sure to help your child learn the subject thoroughly. It is through proper examples and illustrations; you can help your child to solve the complicated math task at ease.