PROBLEM SOLVING

MS. MARÍA SÁNCHEZ

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills

(b) Knowledge and skills.

(1) Mathematical process standards. The student uses

mathematical processes to acquire and demonstrate
mathematical understanding. The student is expected to:
(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.
Solve the Problem

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
Solve the Problem Take problem apart and solve in steps

Step 1:
A rubber ball drops from a rooftop 18m above the ground. How far did the rubber
ball travel when it hit the ground for the 1st time?
Answer: 18 meters.

Rooftop 18m

Ground
Solve the Problem
Step 2:
The rubber ball rebounds to half the height (1/2), from which the ball was
dropped from the rooftop. What is the height of the rebound?
Answer: 9 meters.

Rooftop 18m

9m (ball rebounds to ½ the height it was dropped)

Ground
Solve the Problem
Step 3:
After the rubber ball travels to half the height (1/2), from which the ball was
dropped from the rooftop, the rubber ball travels down and hits the ground the
2nd time. How far will the rubber ball travel from the point of the rebound until it
hits the ground the 2nd time?
Answer: 9 meters.

Rooftop 18m

9m

9m

Ground
Solve the Problem
Step 4:
After the rubber ball travels to half the height (1/2), from which the ball was
dropped from the rooftop, the rubber ball travels down 9 meters and hits the
ground the second time. Next, the rubber ball hits the ground for the 2nd time
where it rebounds again to half the height ½ of the 2nd rebound. What is the
height of the 2nd rebound?
Answer: 4.5 meters.
Rooftop 18m
9m
4.5m

9m
Ground
Solve the Problem
Step 5:
After the rubber ball travels to half the height (1/2 ) from the 2nd rebound, the rubber ball travels
down and hits the ground for a 3rd time. How far did the ball travel to the ground after the 2nd
rebound?
Answer: 4.5 meters.

Rooftop 18m
9m
4.5m

9m 4.5m
Find the total meters travelled by the rubber ball in steps 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5 = total meters travelled.
Ground
Solution: 18m + 9m + 9m + 4.5m + 4.5m = 45m

(step 1) (step 2 ) (step 3) (step 4) (step5) (Total)