ROPES Problem Solving Process and Strategies

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ROPES Problem Solving Process and Strategies
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What is ROPES?

• Ropes is a acronym for the steps of the problem
  solving process that we will use to solve real
  life problems.
• R Read the problem
• Highlight any information that is needed to solve
  the problem
• O Omit
• Cross out any information that is unnecessary to
  solving the problem
• P Make a plan
• choose a problem solving strategy
• E Evidence
• show your work
• S Solution
• write your answer in a complete sentence with
  complete detail

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R Read the ProblemO Omit any unnecessary
information

• The first step in the problem solving process is
  to read the problem.
• After you have read the problem, you need to
  highlight the important information that is
  needed to solve the problem.
• When you have highlighted the information needed
  to solve the problem, you must also omit or cross
  out information that is not needed to solve the
  problem.
• Not all problems have unnecessary information, so
  there may not always be information that is
  crossed out.

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Example

• The roots of a tree reach 12 feet into the
  ground. A dog chased a black and white kitten up
  the tree. It is stuck 5 feet from the top of the
  tree. From the treetop to the roots the tree is
  32 feet. How far above ground is the kitten?
• First read the problem.
• Decide what information is important and needs to
  be highlighted and what information needs to be
  omitted or crossed out.
• Pause the podcast and try to follow the steps.

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Example

• The roots of a tree reach 12 feet into the
  ground. A dog chased a black and white kitten up
  the tree. It is stuck 5 feet from the top of the
  tree. From the treetop to the roots the tree is
  32 feet. How far above ground is the kitten?

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P Make a plan

• Choose a problem solving strategy.
• Strategies

Draw a diagram Make a chart/table Work backwards Find a pattern Guess and test Make an organized list
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Example

• The roots of a tree reach 12 feet into the
  ground. A dog chased a black and white kitten up
  the tree. It is stuck 5 feet from the top of the
  tree. From the treetop to the roots the tree is
  32 feet. How far above ground is the kitten?

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P Draw a diagram
5 feet
32 feet
12 feet
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E Evidence SHOW YOUR WORK!
Taken from http//www.nde.ne.gov/stars/documents/
MoonVermaas1.ppt
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Example
5 feet
32 feet
12 feet

• Evidence Using the diagram, you must show your
  work.
• 32 12 20 feet This is the height of the
  tree from the ground.
• 20 5 15 feet This is the height of the
  kitten from the ground.

Clips taken from dclips.fundraw.com
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S Solution

• Your solution should be written with detail in a
  complete sentence.
• For the example, our answer would be
• The cat is 15 feet from the ground.

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Other Resources

• http//kapalama.ksbe.edu/elementary/resource/mprob
  lemsolvingstrategies.htmlGuess
• http//web.scc.losrios.edu/files/tutoring/ProblemS
  olvingStrategies.doc
• http//library.thinkquest.org/25459/learning/probl
  em/index.htmlstrategy
• http//library.thinkquest.org/J002327F/default.htm