Lesson 10 — Activity 3:

Draw a Picture or Diagram

Sometimes when we draw a picture of our problem, it helps us to see what we need to do. This helps us to understand the problem better, which leads to the solution of the problem! 

If the situation described in the problem is difficult to visualize, sometimes a diagram (using simple symbols or pictures) may help you to see the problem more clearly.

Draw a Picture or a Diagram

After reading the problem, take the information and create a picture or a diagram with it. This takes a problem that may seem complex at first and makes it simpler.

For example, consider the following word problem.

If there are 18 students, and 6 students are not here today, how many are present?

This problem may be represented by using a picture. You could draw 18 children in a row, then cross out 6 of them.

Or you could draw a table such as this:

Once you see the problem in this way, it may be clearer that this is a problem of subtraction, because we are clearly "taking away" some parts from the whole.

Therefore, the answer to the problem is: There are 12 students present.

Let's try another one. This time, draw in the information as the problem progresses.

Therefore, the order of the cars from first to last is:

Orange — Blue — Red — Green — Yellow

  Self-check!

Digging Deeper!