The class needs 120 cans for the food drive. 8 students each bring 9 cans. How many cans does the class still need? Every panel below is this one problem.
1Find the Hidden Question
step 1 hidden
How many cans did the 8 students bring?
8 × 9 = 72
step 2 asked
How many cans does the class still need?
120 - 72 = 48
Two steps means two questions. The problem asks the second one, so you have to find the first.
2Draw Both Parts
One whole, two parts. The bar shows which operations to use, so you do not need keywords.
3Write One Equation
120 - 8 × 9 = c
no parentheses, so the multiplying happens first
120 - 72 = c
c = 48 cans
The letter stands for the answer until you find it. The same problem also reads 8 × 9 + c = 120.
4Check That It Is Reasonable
Rounding first tells you roughly where to land. An answer of 72 is the first step, stopped too soon.
