Worded questions

[Only Cheating Yourself]

I really struggle with them even the basics, how can i improve on this?

[vicky_hu]

For worded problems you should read the question carefully, identify the key bits of information and what the question is asking you to do.

It does help to list the information given and note what the question is asking you to do. From there, you can usually start the solution process.

[Frozone]

I really struggle with them even the basics, how can i improve on this?

Would you happen to have an example of what type of question you are struggling with?

[Only Cheating Yourself]

Would you happen to have an example of what type of question you are struggling with?

Like even simply questions like for e.g if Tom is 30 years old and his 3 times older than his daughter Michael Jackson how old is MJ?  I could do that maybe off my head but i can't work those simple questions out… And then with methods, i struggle with the quadratic type questions…

[Frozone]

Like even simply questions like for e.g if Tom is 30 years old and his 3 times older than his daughter Michael Jackson how old is MJ?  I could do that maybe off my head but i can't work those simple questions out

I think what you have to do is practice similar questions like that one you mentioned. After doing several of those type of worded questions you will realize that they are usually asking for the same thing, and that the questions become extremely similiar the only difference is that they change the numbers.

And then with methods, i struggle with the quadratic type questions…

I would help you if i could. To be honest I sometimes struggle with these types of questions as well. I guess all we have to do is practice!

Hope that helps even a little bit!

[Orb]

Like even simply questions like for e.g if Tom is 30 years old and his 3 times older than his daughter Michael Jackson how old is MJ?  I could do that maybe off my head but i can't work those simple questions out… And then with methods, i struggle with the quadratic type questions…

There are some things which you can do immediately upon reading the worded problem.

1. Identify KEY words.
Some of this just gives away what type of problem it is.
Eg. Gradient of a line (differentiation!)
Find area covered by a graph (integration!)
Perpendicular (Linear graphs)

2. Zone in on the topic of the key word
If it's about gradients, what do I have to do in relation to differentiation? Do I just write an equation for dy/dx or (alternative method)

3. Find the correct solution.

4. Practice, practice, practice! Do more and more and eventually you'll become much better! Don't lose hope (unfortunately, the old adage practice makes perfect applies in our everyday lives)

[IndefatigableLover]

There are some things which you can do immediately upon reading the worded problem.

1. Identify KEY words.
Some of this just gives away what type of problem it is.
Eg. Gradient of a line (differentiation!)
Find area covered by a graph (integration!)
Perpendicular (Linear graphs)

2. Zone in on the topic of the key word
If it's about gradients, what do I have to do in relation to differentiation? Do I just write an equation for dy/dx or (alternative method)

3. Find the correct solution.

4. Practice, practice, practice! Do more and more and eventually you'll become much better! Don't lose hope (unfortunately, the old adage practice makes perfect applies in our everyday lives)

Haha good but you forgot to list some examples for Probability (it is a pain if you don't get the hang of reading worded questions properly in Probability but as others have said, once you practice a lot, you'll realise which techniques to use for which question )

[jammin]

There are some things which you can do immediately upon reading the worded problem.

1. Identify KEY words.
Some of this just gives away what type of problem it is.
Eg. Gradient of a line (differentiation!)
Find area covered by a graph (integration!)
Perpendicular (Linear graphs)

2. Zone in on the topic of the key word
If it's about gradients, what do I have to do in relation to differentiation? Do I just write an equation for dy/dx or (alternative method)

3. Find the correct solution.

4. Practice, practice, practice! Do more and more and eventually you'll become much better! Don't lose hope (unfortunately, the old adage practice makes perfect applies in our everyday lives)

How could you forget about probability?!

[Orb]

Haha good but you forgot to list some examples for Probability (it is a pain if you don't get the hang of reading worded questions properly in Probability but as others have said, once you practice a lot, you'll realise which techniques to use for which question )

Yeah, didn't come to my mind, I was just listing examples off the top of my head haha.

Key words for Prob:

Transition matrix, events, probability (you'll be surprised at how many times this word pops up!), elements, etc

[Only Cheating Yourself]

Thanks guys

[Yacoubb]

I really struggle with them even the basics, how can i improve on this?

Ok how I approach these types of questions is to really look at what the question wants me to do. Dissect the question - you need to be able to pretty much deduce what the question wants, and sometimes, this is facilitated by the presence of a few additional values and what not.

Just take it slow (obviously not too slow that you pretty much waste 10 mins on the question), but enough for you to get it right! Good luck!

[Only Cheating Yourself]

Ok how I approach these types of questions is to really look at what the question wants me to do. Dissect the question - you need to be able to pretty much deduce what the question wants, and sometimes, this is facilitated by the presence of a few additional values and what not.

Just take it slow (obviously not too slow that you pretty much waste 10 mins on the question), but enough for you to get it right! Good luck!

True, ill start with my year 9 book before moving into the methods worded questions.