Functional Skills Mathematics - Solving Word Problems

Transcription

1 Functional Skills Mathematics - Solving Word Problems The secret of passing a Functional Skills assessment is to understanding the language of the questions and deciding what calculations you need to do to answer the questions. The questions can contain extra information that is not required to solve that particular question but may be needed when you answer further questions in the task. It is important to read the questions thoroughly, maybe two or three times, so you are sure you know what the question is asking you to do and what calculation you need to carry out. This is so designed to test your ability to be able to select the correct information you require to answer the question. The answer to one particular question may be needed to solve further questions later in the task. What calculation do you need to make? You have a choice of four multiply (x), divide ( ), add (+) or subtract (-). Multiply and add make your totals larger whilst divide and subtract will make them smaller. You need to think - is the answer going to be larger or smaller than your starting amount? Maths language Increase, interest, bonus, more, extra, VAT, altogether, credit Discount, off, decrease, half price, take, debit, deposit Share, split, equal amounts, What you need to do Add Subtract Divide Here are some problems for you to try Find the important information needed so you can select the correct calculation to carry out. Decide whether you need to add, subtract multiply or divide or even combine them to complete the task. Question 1 - Example At a football match there were home fans and 8622 away fans. How many spectators were watching the football match altogether? What do you need to do? Add together the two totals to find the combined total for home and away fans. Home fans: away fans = 24309

2 Question 2 Alan has saved 837 and wants to spend some of his money. He wants to leave 195 pounds in his bank account to pay his standing orders. How much money can he spend? Question 3 In 2015 a bookshop sold books. The shop aims to sell 3423 more than last year. How many books does the shop aim to sell in 2016? Question 4 A car has travelled miles. It need to be serviced when it has covered miles. How many more miles can it cover before it needs to be serviced? Question 5 Jackie has 473 in her account. She pays in a cheque for 46 and then later uses her debit card to buy items for 289 and 54. How much money does she have left in her account?

3 Question 6 Ahmed buys a television for 375. He pays a deposit of 75 and agrees to pay the balance over the next 12 months. How much does he have to pay each month? Question 7 Sandra needs to save 440 to pay for a holiday. Shae can afford to save 55 per month. How many months will it take her to save enough money for her holiday? Question 8 Twenty four students decide to hire a hall for and end of term party. The cost to hire the hall is 840 which will be split equally between them. How much does each student have to pay? Question 9 Johnny starts a new job He is told he will be paid 6.90 per hour. He works 7 ½ hours per shift, five days a week. How much money will he get paid for the week?

4 Eastern Coast Railways RAILCARD PRICES One Year Three Years >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Get 1/3 discount off your rail travel Question 10 You have to travel by rail to attend an interview and decide to buy a Rail Card. What is the difference in the price between a One Year and a Three Year Railcard over a three year period? Decking 1.5m Summerhouse dimensions: Width: 2500mm 1.5m Summerhouse 1.5m Length: 3500mm 2m Question 11 The diagram above shows the position of a Summerhouse on decking in a garden. What are width and length of the decking?

5 Holiday Price list Month Date Price Date Price Date Price Date Price Date Price May 6 th th th th 740 June 3 rd th th th 730 July 1 st th th nd th 1060 Aug 5 th th th th 940 Sept 2 nd th th rd 550 Question 12 You work in a travel agent and a customer would like to know the price for two consecutive weeks in August so they can book a holiday. The customer would also like to compare this price against the two cheapest consecutive weeks at a different time in the year. What is the difference in price between the two prices? Washing Machines Machine Aqua Bubble Eco Optus Wind Price Washes up to 3.5kg 6kg 6kg 7kg 6kg Spin speed Units of electricity used for each wash Litres of water used for each wash Question You need to buy a washing machine that holds at least 6kg, has a spin speed of at least 1200rpm and costs under 350

6