Two steps
List givens and the unknown with units. Decide whether the story calls for sum, difference, product, quotient, or an equation. Then compute.
Sanity check
Mistakes
- Answering the wrong question (“how many” vs “how much left”).
- Skipping units until the end.
Use the calculator
FAQ
- Should I draw something?
A small sketch, table, or list of givens often makes the relationships obvious.