Word problems are where algebra meets the real world, and for many, that's a terrifying intersection. Here's your guide to success.

The Golden Rule: Do not try to solve it at first. Your only initial goal is to translate the story from English into a mathematical equation.

Step 1: Read for Understanding. What is the story about? What is happening?

Step 2: The Detective Phase. Read it again with a highlighter. Pull out every number and every keyword.

Step 3: The Variable. Identify the single most important unknown value you are being asked to find. That is now 'x'.

Step 4: The Dictionary. Translate your keywords into operations. 'is' -> =. 'of' -> *. 'less than' -> -.

Step 5: The Equation. Assemble your variables, numbers, and operations into a single, clean equation based on the story's sentences.

Only now, after you have a clean equation, do you switch your brain into 'solving' mode.

This process turns a chaotic paragraph into a structured, familiar puzzle.

The challenge was never the math; it was the translation. Master the art of translation, and you will master word problems.