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Word Problems

Problem Solving — algebra and arithmetic (GMAT Focus Edition)
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Word Problems

by rampart73 » Mon Jan 25, 2010 8:16 am
I am having a terrible time with word problems. What I have realized from looking at my practice tests is that I am having problems trying to create equations from the word problems.

I have the MGMT series and I am studying the word problems strategy book but I find myself either building the wrong equation or being stuck to the point where I look at the solution. The ones that I can successfully build the equation, become a breeze but then again that's the idea on these problems right.

Any advice on how I can get better at converting word problems into equations. Resources, strategies anything. I am stuck and looking for advice.
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by yaakov Macabee » Mon Jan 25, 2010 11:24 am
This area was originally one of my weaknesses, but I can handle them much better now. I would suggest checking out some of the videos you can find online. There are often a couple ways of reaching a solution, and while it is best knowing each method, a correct solution is always correct. You may need to find a method that clicks with you. Just google "age word problems" or something similar. You are bound to find something that helps you out. My guess, if our experience is the same as mine, the problem is not really the algebra and solving the system of equations that is the problem, it is the correct set-up. Seeing others do it is what helped me. Good luck!
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by Osirus@VeritasPrep » Tue Jan 26, 2010 6:12 am
Do you happen to know which videos are helpful? I struggle with word translation DS problems, anything that would help would be greatly appreciated.
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by yaakov Macabee » Tue Jan 26, 2010 6:37 am
I personally have found that videos from the Khan Academy available freely on youtube and the 4th Manhattan book have been really helpful. The first step on DS problems of this type is to translate the English into Algebra. Both resources will help you with that.
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by harsh.champ » Mon Feb 01, 2010 3:10 am
rampart73 wrote:I am having a terrible time with word problems. What I have realized from looking at my practice tests is that I am having problems trying to create equations from the word problems.

I have the MGMT series and I am studying the word problems strategy book but I find myself either building the wrong equation or being stuck to the point where I look at the solution. The ones that I can successfully build the equation, become a breeze but then again that's the idea on these problems right.

Any advice on how I can get better at converting word problems into equations. Resources, strategies anything. I am stuck and looking for advice.
Hi there!
Basically the main problem in the word problems is that we are bombarded with too much data.The simple trick in it is to identify the constants and the variables.....Firstly,look at the question .......identify the variable asked for...then look for connections of the variable with only the needed constants in the word problem.......what i do is i jot down the constants as x,y,z.. as i encounter them through the question....knowing and identifying the constants and the variables,the last part (now looks simple) is just using the connections seen above to relate to the equations..
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