grass problem solving method

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This is a guide on how to solve word problems!

Definition of a Word Problem:

Before you start to solve word problems, it is important to understand what a word problem is. A word problem is a mathematical exercise which is in the form of a hypothetical question that needs mathematical analysis and equations to be solved. A good way to solve word problems is by using the method called “GRASS.” GRASS is an acronym for Given, Required, Analysis, Solution, and Statement. You can use GRASS, step by step, to break down a word problem, making it easier to solve.

Given : Identify the given information in the question. What values are given and what do they represent? It may be helpful to know the following terms that are sometimes used in math questions and what they mean:

Required : Look at what the question is actually asking you to find. Whatever it is, represent it with a variable e.g., x.

Analysis : If applicable, draw a sketch if one is not already provided. Decide on the appropriate math techniques to use and the formulas that relate the different quantities of interest. Whenever possible, use one variable only. For example, if you're looking for two numbers that differ by 5, then let x, and x+5 (or x and x-5) represent the two numbers, NOT x and y. Alternatively, you may be able to use some information presented in the question to help you rewrite your equation in terms of one variable only.

Solution : Solve the equation or find the answer you're looking for. You’ll have to think hard about the various math techniques you’ve learned in your courses to figure out which ones work for this particular question. Make sure your solution(s) makes sense in the context of the application—e.g., a negative area doesn't make any sense.

Statement : Finish off with a concluding statement to make clear the answer to the question. If applicable, include units in your answer.

Here is a simple example to show how GRASS is used to solve a word problem.

The perimeter of a rectangular park is 26 m. If the length of the park is 5m, what is the width of the park?

Given : In this question, we are given the perimeter of the rectangular park as 26 m. We are also told that the length of the park is 5 m. So, P= 26m and L= 5m.

Required : The question asks: “What is the width of the park?” From this we know we have to find the width. Find: w = ?

Analysis : We can draw a sketch of the rectangular park to find out what formulas we might have to use to find the width.

Note: The longer sides are the lengths and the shorter sides are the widths.

So from this sketch, we can see that we need the formula for the perimeter of a rectangle.

If we rearrange the equation for w, then we get

w = (P – 2L) ÷ 2

The simplified equation is,

w = P/2 - L

Solution : So now that we have our equation, we can solve for the unknown variable w by subbing in our known variables, P and L.

w = (26m)/2   -  5m

w = 13m - 5m

w = 8m 

Statement : We found that the width is 8 metres. So now write your final answer from your solution in words.

Therefore, the width of the rectangular park is 8 metres.

G.R.A.S.S. Method

What is the GRASS method?

The GRASS method is a strategy math students can use to help them solve word problems or any problem-solving questions that involve two or more pieces of information.

Why use the GRASS method?

Most math students can answer straight questions like 384 multiplied by 19. But when the same question is presented in a word problem, they suddenly struggle!

The GRASS method helps them focus on successfully applying their skills and knowledge of math skills so that they can grow and develop their proficiency in mathematics.

How does the GRASS method work?

Every time you come across a difficult question with lots of information or words, you can use the GRASS method to simplify the question for yourself.

G: Gather Information

The first step is G - gather important information.

This step asks you to underline or circle the important details like numbers or if something is being added, subtracted, and so on.

Here's a quick example:

The temperature in the morning was 2 degrees, and in the afternoon it went up by 5 degrees. What is the temperature now?

In the G step, we would note that currently the temperature is 2, and later it is goes up by 5 degrees.

R : Question Required to Answer

The next step is R - required. What question are you required (must) answer?

In the example provided, the question to answer is what is the current temperature.

A : Action you need to take

Every math question requires performing one or more mathematical operation. Mathematical operations are addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. There are some others, too, but for now we'll focus on these.

In this step, it is possible you will do more than one action or mathematical operation.

Using our example, the action we need to take is add since the question tells us the temperature went up, which means it got hotter.

S : Solve the problem

This step is where you will get your answer and also show how you got your answer. It is important to show every step to earn full marks for the question.

Continuing with our example, we would show the following work either using a number line or using place values.

Click here to learn how to add or subtract using number lines and place values.

S: Statement

This final step is actually incredibly important! Many students lose marks when doing longer problems or word problems because they skip this step.

S is for statement, meaning you need to write a statement (sentence) explaining your answer and answering the required question.

Using our example, a statement could be, "The temperature is now 7 degrees."

GRASS/GRASP Solving Word Problems Method/Strategy

Description

Help students plan how to solve word problems with this 5-step method!

Using the GRASS/GRASP Method, students will:

• Determine what is important information given in word problems
• Identify the questions they need to solve
• Choose an appropriate action (+ - x ÷) to solve word problems
• Solve and check their answers
• Write a concluding statement or paraphrase to answer the question 

What’s included?

• There are 20 content pages in total. 
• If you want to use the GRAS S acronym, print out the first set of posters, example, and template. 
• If you want to use the GRAS P acronym, print out the second set of posters, example, and template.

For each set, there is:

• A poster overview of what GRASS/GRASP stands for. 
• An informational poster for each letter of the GRASS/GRASP method that can be printed and put up in the classroom. 
• A poster with an example of how to use the GRASS/GRASP method.
• A blank template for students to use while learning the GRASS/GRASP method to solve word problems. 
• Half pages of the GRASS/GRASP example and template should you wish to save paper. 

Also try checking out:

- 2 and 3-Digit Addition Word Problems Task Cards

- 2 and 3-Digit Subtraction Word Problems Task Cards

- 2 and 3-Digit Addition and Subtraction Word Problems Task Cards BUNDLE

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Q. What is GRASP when related to solving math word problems?

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Answered By: Marg Mannseichner Last Updated: Jul 17, 2017     Views: 12843

Here you go! It's one of many tools a teacher might suggest, for helping you go about answering a question. Hope it helps...

GRASP Problem Solving Method 1 Given = What do you know?  (What info was given to you?) 2 Required = What do you want to know? (What info do you have to figure out?) 3 Analysis = What formula can you use? (What's the best formula to use?) 4 Solution = Show your work (Show all the work you did to figure out the answer.) 5 Paraphrase = State the answer in a sentence. (Give your answer in a sentence.)

Have an awesome day!

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Comments (3)

• I am a fifth grader now and I love math. My teacher says that we need to use this "GRASP". I rather do the traditional way than this way since I don't know how. But now, I kind of changed my mind. lol :} by Miranda on Nov 13, 2017
• I use this on grade 3 homework :) by ClarieWang on Apr 01, 2019
• Thank You! This really helped me with my math homework. by Elaine on Feb 24, 2020

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A Mathematician Has Finally Solved the Infamous Goat Problem

It only took a couple centuries.

• The goat problem represents key ways pure math doesn't exactly match the "real world."
• The secret is complex analysis, giving a new frame of reference for the problem.

How do you mix the irrational world of pi with the real world of . . . goats? This is the spirit of a long-unsolved math problem that sounds deceptively simple.

You love freaking out about math. So do we. Let's freak out together.

The problem: For a goat to be able to eat grass in a circle with an area of exactly one half acre, how much rope does it need?

The answer has been approximate for centuries, providing food for thought for mathematicians who enjoyed pondering an idle headscratcher. Now, there’s finally a concrete equation.

The goat problem is a living example of what it means to round off your answer. Steve Nadis at Quanta explains the distinction :

“To illustrate the difference, consider the equation x 2 − 2 = 0. One could derive an approximate numerical answer, x = 1.4142, but that’s not as accurate or satisfying as the exact solution, x = √2.”

Or consider Zeno’s paradox , the famous thought experiment in which a frog halves its distance across a pond—and literally never gets to the other side. How does Zeno’s chicken cross the road? (It doesn’t.)

With a few moments of thought, the goat problem quickly turns into an exercise in many intersecting approximations. This is why every answer offered since the 1700s has been an approximation as well.

In the 1980s, mathematicians made big progress by blowing out a very hypothetical two dimensions—easy in pure math, impractical in reality—into a 3D space with different mathematics. If this sounds counterintuitive, think about how much of calculus is enabled by switching from x to x2.

And now, finally , there’s an exact solution for the first time. Mathematician Ingo Ullisch took a cue from the previous researchers who made progress on the problem. He introduced complex analysis, which is kind of like algebra with an optional imaginary-number add-on.

By multiplying out a series of values expressed as the telltale a+bi of complex numbers, he was able to reduce the problem to a still-bewildering, but exact expression. Quanta explains the catch:

“Ullisch’s solution is not something simple like the square root of 2. It’s a bit more abstruse—the ratio of two so-called contour integral expressions, with numerous trigonometric terms thrown into the mix—and it can’t tell you, in a practical sense, how long to make the goat’s leash. Approximations are still required to get a number that’s useful to anyone in animal husbandry.”

What’s fun about the goat problem, which mathematicians admit has no relationship to other questions or even mathematical fields, is that it acts as a kind of mathematical Rosetta stone. Whatever your field is, there’s probably a way to approach the problem and model it using your own modeling and analysis.

Something cool about any exact equation is that, technically speaking, it can be set equal to any other exact equation and studied for commonalities.

🎥 Now Watch This:

Caroline Delbert is a writer, avid reader, and contributing editor at Pop Mech. She's also an enthusiast of just about everything. Her favorite topics include nuclear energy, cosmology, math of everyday things, and the philosophy of it all. 

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