few_shots: Example 1:
Problem/activity:
You’re mixing ingredients for cookies. The recipe says to combine 6 tablespoons, or ¾ stick, of butter with 1 cup of sugar. You accidentally mix in a whole stick of butter (8 tablespoons) with the cup of sugar. How can you fix this?


Mathematical concept/skill options: 
A. Analyze proportional relationships and use them to solve real-world and mathematical problems.
B. Understand ratio concepts and use ratio reasoning to solve problems.


Thought: This problem focuses on the ratio between two ingredients. Students do not have to analyze proportional relationships in-depth, which is reserved for a higher grade level, but rather use ratios to find missing values.
Answer: B

Example 2:
Problem/activity:
For each pair of numbers, determine if the values are equivalent. Explain your reasoning for each one.
a.
$$-0.25$$
and
$$\frac{1}{-4}$$
b.
$$-\left ( \frac{1}{4} \right )$$
and
$$\frac{-1}{-4}$$
c.
$$\frac{-1}{4}$$
and
$$-\frac{1}{4}$$


Mathematical concept/skill options: 
A. Apply and extend previous understandings of operations with fractions to add, subtract, multiply, and divide rational numbers.
B. Reason quantitatively and use units to solve problems.
C. Apply and extend previous understandings of numbers to the system of rational numbers.
D. Represent complex numbers and their operations on the complex plane.
E. Perform arithmetic operations with complex numbers.
F. Compute fluently with multi-digit numbers and find common factors and multiples.
G. Represent and model with vector quantities.
H. Perform operations on vectors.
I. Use properties of rational and irrational numbers.
J. Use complex numbers in polynomial identities and equations.
K. Extend the properties of exponents to rational exponents.
L. Know that there are numbers that are not rational, and approximate them by rational numbers.
M. Perform operations on matrices and use matrices in applications.
N. Apply and extend previous understandings of multiplication and division to divide fractions by fractions.


Thought: This problem involves understanding fractions, multiplication, and division.
Answer: A

Example 3:
Problem/activity:
Problem 1
The table below contains single equations in a single variable, single equations in two variables, and pairs of simultaneous equations in two variables. Check the appropriate box to show whether there is no solution, exactly 1 solution, or if there is an infinite number of solutions.
|                                                          | **           No solution          ** | **           Exactly 1 solution          ** | **           Infinite number of solutions          ** |
|----------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|
|                       $${9=4x+7}$$                       |                                      |                                             |                                                       |
|                       $${y=3y+5}$$                       |                                      |                                             |                                                       |
|                    $${y={x\over2}}$$                     |                                      |                                             |                                                       |
|                     $${3x+6y-9=0}$$                      |                                      |                                             |                                                       |
|    $${x=y}$$                        $${1.25x=1.25y}$$    |                                      |                                             |                                                       |
| $${9.9=6x+8y}$$                        $${9x=2.5y-8.8}$$ |                                      |                                             |                                                       |
| $${11x-2y=1.5}$$                        $${11x-2y=2.5}$$ |                                      |                                             |                                                       |
Problem 2
Kim has a small container and a large container as shown.
[IMG]
It takes 16 of the small containers to fill the large container. Three small containers leave 1.95 gallons of space in the big container.
What is the size of each of the two containers?


Mathematical concept/skill options: 
A. Write expressions in equivalent forms to solve problems.
B. Understand properties of multiplication and the relationship between multiplication and division.
C. Interpret the structure of expressions.
D. Solve real-life and mathematical problems using numerical and algebraic expressions and equations.
E. Use polynomial identities to solve problems.
F. Understand the relationship between zeros and factors of polynomials.
G. Write and interpret numerical expressions.
H. Work with equal groups of objects to gain foundations for multiplication.
I. Perform arithmetic operations on polynomials.
J. Create equations that describe numbers or relationships
K. Generate and analyze patterns.
L. Analyze and solve linear equations and pairs of simultaneous linear equations.
M. Understand solving equations as a process of reasoning and explain the reasoning.
N. Apply and extend previous understandings of arithmetic to algebraic expressions.
O. Rewrite rational expressions.
P. Represent and solve problems involving multiplication and division.
Q. Understand addition as putting together and adding to, and understand subtraction as taking apart and taking from.
R. Reason about and solve one-variable equations and inequalities.
S. Understand and apply properties of operations and the relationship between addition and subtraction.
T. Understand the connections between proportional relationships, lines, and linear equations.
U. Multiply and divide within 100.
V. Gain familiarity with factors and multiples.
W. Use the four operations with whole numbers to solve problems.
X. Work with addition and subtraction equations.
Y. Represent and solve problems involving addition and subtraction.
Z. Solve problems involving the four operations, and identify and explain patterns in arithmetic.
AA. Solve equations and inequalities in one variable.
AB. Solve systems of equations.
AC. Represent and analyze quantitative relationships between dependent and independent variables.
AD. Work with radicals and integer exponents.
AE. Represent and solve equations and inequalities graphically.
AF. Analyze patterns and relationships.
AG. Use properties of operations to generate equivalent expressions.
AH. Add and subtract within 20.


Thought: This set of problems involves solving linear equations and pairs of linear equations.
Answer: L

Now, assign the following problem or activity to one or more relevant mathematical concepts/skills it teaches.
shot_info: fl_problem_000972

6

fl_problem_001097

7

fl_problem_001392

8
options: Solve equations and inequalities in one variable.

Gain familiarity with factors and multiples.

Solve real-life and mathematical problems using numerical and algebraic expressions and equations.

Write and interpret numerical expressions.

Rewrite rational expressions.

Write expressions in equivalent forms to solve problems.

Understand solving equations as a process of reasoning and explain the reasoning.

Perform arithmetic operations on polynomials.

Represent and solve equations and inequalities graphically.

Generate and analyze patterns.

Understand properties of multiplication and the relationship between multiplication and division.

Multiply and divide within 100.

Understand the connections between proportional relationships, lines, and linear equations.

Solve systems of equations.

Understand and apply properties of operations and the relationship between addition and subtraction.

Use the four operations with whole numbers to solve problems.

Create equations that describe numbers or relationships

Analyze patterns and relationships.

Reason about and solve one-variable equations and inequalities.

Use polynomial identities to solve problems.

Add and subtract within 20.

Represent and solve problems involving addition and subtraction.

Work with equal groups of objects to gain foundations for multiplication.

Work with addition and subtraction equations.

Understand addition as putting together and adding to, and understand subtraction as taking apart and taking from.

Interpret the structure of expressions.

Understand the relationship between zeros and factors of polynomials.

Represent and analyze quantitative relationships between dependent and independent variables.

Represent and solve problems involving multiplication and division.

Work with radicals and integer exponents.

Analyze and solve linear equations and pairs of simultaneous linear equations.

Use properties of operations to generate equivalent expressions.

Solve problems involving the four operations, and identify and explain patterns in arithmetic.

Apply and extend previous understandings of arithmetic to algebraic expressions.
problem_activity: Activity
The purpose of this activity is to get students thinking about strategically solving equations by paying attention to their structure. Distribution first versus dividing first is a common point of divergence for students as they start solving.
Identify students who choose different solution paths to solve the last two problems.
Launch
Arrange students in groups of 2. Give students 2 minutes quiet think time for problem 1, then 3–5 minutes partner time to discuss problem 1 and complete the other problems. Follow with a whole-class discussion.
Conversing: MLR7 Compare and Connect.
Display Noah’s and Lin’s solution methods side by side. Once students have determined that they are both correct, ask students to explain the differences between the approaches. Amplify mathematical language students use to distinguish between distributing or dividing. This will help students reflect on and produce mathematical language to explain why they choose to take either approach when answering the remaining questions.
Design Principle(s): Maximize meta-awareness; Cultivate conversation
Student Facing
Noah and Lin both solved the equation
\(14a=2(a-3)\)
.
Do you agree with either of them? Why?
Noah's solution:
\(\begin{align*} 14a&=2(a-3) \\ 14a&=2a-6 \\ 12a&=\text-6 \\ a&=\text-\frac12 \\ \end{align*}\)
Lin's solution:
\(\begin{align} 14a&=2(a-3) \\ 7a&=a-3\\ 6a&=\text-3\\a&=\text-\frac12 \end{align}\)
Elena is asked to solve
\(15 - 10x = 5(x + 9)\)
. What do you recommend she does to each side first?
Diego is asked to solve
\(3x -8 = 4(x + 5)\)
. What do you recommend he does to each side first?
Student Response
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Student Facing
Are you ready for more?
In a cryptarithmetic puzzle, the digits 0–9 are represented with letters of the alphabet. Use your understanding of addition to find which digits go with the letters A, B, E, G, H, L, N, and R.
HANGER + HANGER + HANGER = ALGEBRA
Student Response
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click here to register or sign in
for free access to Extension Student Response.
Anticipated Misconceptions
Some students may not distribute or collect like terms before performing the same operation on each side.
Activity Synthesis
Have previously identified groups share the different solution paths they chose for solving the last two questions.
To highlight the different strategies, ask:
“What are the advantages of choosing to distribute first? To divide first?” (Answers vary. Distributing first eliminates confusion about which terms can be subtracted from each side. Dividing first makes the numbers smaller and easier to mentally calculate.)
“What makes it easier to distribute versus divide first on the last question?” (Dividing by 4 before distributing will result in non-integer terms, which can be harder to add and subtract mentally.)
“Is one path more ‘right’ than another?” (No. As long as we follow valid steps, like adding or multiplying the same thing to each side of an equation, the steps are right and will give a correct solution.)


correct_option_index: 30