One Key to Problem-Solving

Not "How To?" but "What do we have here?"

I always emphasize this to my students. When first facing a math problem, especially a word problem, do not try to get the answer right away. This is an unrealistic expectation. The answer will come as the result of properly developing all the relevant, detailed information contained in the problem. Pay attention to the wording. Create a clear mental image of the situation the problem is describing. Sketch a graph, a table, or a drawing to represent the situation. Avoid jumping into pre-packaged, memorized formulas after having read the problem only once.