Reasonable Solutions

Students often get so excited to finish solving a problem that they fail to consider the reasonableness of their solution. How can students be trained to reflect BEFORE jumping into the solving process? One possibility is requiring students to define variables in writing and make note of any restrictions.

• Can the solution be negative?
• Positive?
• Zero?
• Fraction?

Reasonable Solutions Discussion Activity

Use the Takeoff-Touchdown activity to add movement to a whole class discussion on reasonable solutions. Prompt discussion by asking students to explain their reasoning to their shoulder partner. Pose a follow-up question to RoundRobin in their teams. And then consider using a problem set strictly for the purpose of defining variables and making note of potential restrictions...no solving!

This discussion activity highlights Common Core State Standard 7.EE.B.3 included in MATH-7.