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Geometric Word Problems 615 Views


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Description:

We’ve got a problem. Actually, we’ve got a ton of them. Fortunately, they’re only geometric word problems, which really aren’t so bad. We’re in much better shape than when we had that rat infestation last week. No snappy math formula was going to make that better.

Language:
English Language

Transcript

00:04

Geometric Word Problems, a la Shmoop. "A picture is worth a thousand words."

00:11

Well, that's what they say, right? So why doesn’t math use picture problems

00:14

like we want them to? Well you're in luck! Out of all subjects,

00:18

geometry has the most picture problems…

00:21

…well…out of all math subjects, anyway. It’s because geometry is all about the shapes.

00:28

Most of geometry is about things you can see with your own two eyes.

00:32

To solve geometry word problems, just follow these basic rules.

00:35

First, look at the picture you're given.

00:38

If you don't have one, use your Van Gogh art skills and draw one.

00:41

It really doesn't matter which art skills you use as long as you don’t take after

00:45

Picasso.

00:45

He’ll mess you up big time. Now that you have your picture, make sure

00:49

you understand it.

00:50

Hopefully it's easier to understand this picture… …than it is to understand all these words.

01:01

You should also make sure you know what the question is asking you.

01:07

Finding area and finding perimeter are two different things…

01:10

…and in order to get the right answer, you need to know what you want to find.

01:14

Then you need to come up with a way to get to the answer.

01:17

In this case though, the GPS app on your smartphone probably won't cut it.

01:21

Many times, you'll need to use certain formulas for, say, area…

01:28

It's okay to not memorize formulas as long as you understand them…

01:32

… but brownie points if you do know them by heart.

01:35

In any case, find the formulas applicable to your problem and use them to find your

01:39

answer. You may want to check your work and make sure

01:42

your units are right, too. It'd be upsetting to do all that work just

01:45

to find that your answer doesn't make any sense.

01:48

After you're sure it's correct, relax and take a break.

01:51

You've earned it. And then, once you've had your fill of sunbathing

01:54

and Shirley Temples…

01:55

…repeat everything for the next problem. Pretty soon, you won't need a thousand words

01:59

to make a word problem in geometry look picture-perfect.

02:01

It just takes a bit of practice.

02:05

Blurb:

02:06

We’ve got a problem. Actually, we’ve got a ton of them. Fortunately, they’re only

02:15

Geometric Word Problems, which really aren’t so bad. We’re in much better shape than

02:21

when we had that rat infestation problem last week. No snappy math formula was going to

02:26

make that situation better.

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