Number Sense Blog
Tips and Techniques: Finding 100% of a Number
Apr 22, 2014
Given a percentage of a number, how do you find 100%? We'll show you different ways to find 100%.
First, remember that 100% means "all of it... the whole thing."
Example 1: 25% of what number is 5?
This question asks,...
June/July 2014 Newsflash: Math Muscle Challenge
Jun 5, 2014
Answers to last month's challenges:
Grades 1-6: $37.15
Grades 6 and up: 64 times larger
This month's problems:
Grades 1 - 6:
Rick goes to the park each day and counts the number of ducks swimming on the pond. On Sunday he counts 1 ...
August/September 2014 Newsflash: Math Muscle Challenge
Aug 14, 2014
Take the Math Muscle Challenge!
Grades 1 - 6: A racehorse can run a mile in 1 minute 40 seconds. At that rate, how many seconds will it take the horse to run a half-furlong? (Hint - A furlong is 1/8 of a mile.)
Grades 6 and up: Br...
August/September 2014 Newsflash: Tips & Techniques
Aug 14, 2014
"Thinking backwards"-starting at the end of the problem and using reverse operations-can help you solve certain problems at different grade levels.
Upper Elementary and Middle School:
A certain number is doubled. That answer is tripled. Fina...
August/September 2014 Newsflash: Math Matters
Aug 14, 2014
We hope you had a great summer! A new school year is here once again, and it's time to get excited about possibilities that lie ahead. As you and your child navigate the back to school scramble, here are some tips to help you make the most of op...
October/November 2014 Newsflash: Math Matters
Oct 16, 2014
Now that you're starting to settle into your fall routine, it's time for that first report card! While this may seem like a stressful time at first, it can also be a very constructive period for you and your child. Here are a few strategies to hel...
October/November 2014 Newsflash: Tips & Techniques
Oct 16, 2014
From time to time, we get lucky and the computation we have to do can be solved using a specific technique or trick that allows us to do effortless mental math.
Level 1:
12 x 125 = _______
The trick to this quest...
October/November 2014 Newsflash: Math Muscle Challenge
Oct 16, 2014
Grades 1 - 5: Annie looked into a dog park and observed the dogs and their owners. She counted 50 legs. With a total of 16 "beings" (dogs and/or owners), how many dogs and how many owners are in the dog park? (Hint: Annie is not in the dog park.)
...
December 2014 / January 2015 Newsflash: Tips & Techniques
Dec 12, 2014
Upper Elementary and Middle School
Find the perimeter of the shape below. (Hint: there is enough information.)
Solution:
The length on the bottom of the rectangle is the same as the length on the top, although the top has been sp...
December 2014 / January 2015 Newsflash: Math Muscle Challenge
Dec 12, 2014
Grades 1 – 5: Jim is 6 inches taller than Bill. If Bill is 4 feet 7 inches tall, how tall is Jim?
Grades 6 and up: Three equally priced pens cost $4.50 altogether. If the cost per pen is increased by $0.50, how much will 5 pens cost at the...
December 2014 / January 2015 Newsflash: Math Matters
Dec 12, 2014
This holiday season, we’re all about making math practical at home! As you and your kids enjoy quality time (and a much-needed break from school), remember that the holidays come with many opportunities for you to show your child how useful (and f...
February / March 2015 Newsflash: Math Muscle Challenge
Feb 12, 2015
Elementary
Mackenzie owns a chicken ranch. She has a total of 10 chickens. Each chicken lays 18 eggs a month. Mackenzie then takes all the eggs and puts a dozen in a carton. How many cartons can Mackenzie fill in a month?
Middle/Hi...
February / March 2015 Newsflash: Tips & Techniques
Feb 12, 2015
Many times, mental math is a better way to solve math problems than using an algorithm. Here are two approaches to division using mental math.
Example 1: 75 ÷ 6
6 is the same as 2 x 3, so instead of dividing by 6, we can divide 75 ...
Finish the School Year Strong!
Feb 12, 2015
With only a few months left in the school year, it’s time to focus on math improvement to ensure your child finishes the year strong!
Here are a few tips for making sure those final grades exceed expectations.
Identify Troublesome ...
Beat the Summer Slide!
Apr 8, 2015
Summer is right around the corner and excitement is in the air! As you prepare for a well-deserved break from the pressures of school, it’s a great time to start thinking about your child’s plans for the summer months.
You’ve probably hear...
June / July 2015 Newsflash: Tips & Techniques
Jun 12, 2015
Upper Elementary:
Q: What number comes right before 1,000?
A: While we may be first inclined to say “999,” there is actually no answer to this question! This is because fractions and decimals can get ever so close to 1,000 without equal...
June / July 2015 Newsflash: Math Muscle Challenge
Jun 12, 2015
Elementary:
What are the next 3 numbers in the pattern?
2, 4, 6, 10, 16, 26, 42…
Middle/High School:
The sum of three consecutive odd numbers is 255. What are the three numbers?
Answers to Last Month’s Math Muscle Chall...
October / November 2015 Newsflash: Math Muscle Challenge
Oct 13, 2015
Grades 1 – 6: Penelope baked a total of 144 cookies. She kept 40 for herself. She then took the remaining cookies and wrapped them in goody bags. If 4 cookies go in each goody bag, how many goody bags can Penelope make?
Grades 6 and up: The pro...
October / November 2015 Newsflash: Math Matters
Oct 13, 2015
As school year 2015 – 2016 gains momentum, we hope that your family is able to pause for a moment and reflect on academic goals for the rest of the fall semester. This is an ideal time to sit and talk with your mathlete(s) about how they’re feelin...
October / November 2015 Newsflash: Tips & Techniques
Oct 13, 2015
Mental Math: The Distributive Property Meets Wholes and Parts
Whether you’re working on arithmetic or algebra, a strong understanding of the distributive property is a valuable tool to have in your mental math toolkit. Here’s our favorite way t...
