NEW HERE? LEARN MORE
closeclose
Last visit was: 27 Apr 2024, 02:11 It is currently 27 Apr 2024, 02:11
Decision Tracker
My Rewards
New posts
New comers' posts

Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel

CANT solve word problems. need alternative approach

SORT BY:
Date
Kudos
Tags:
Find Similar Topics 
Show Tags
Hide Tags
User avatar
S
iliavko
Senior Manager
Senior Manager
Joined: 08 Dec 2015
Posts: 258
Own Kudos [?]: 117 [0]
Given Kudos: 36
GMAT 1: 600 Q44 V27
Send PM
Reviews Badge
CANT solve word problems. need alternative approach [#permalink] New post   07 Jun 2017, 10:37
Hi everyone.

I posted about this many times. I cant solve word problems. I read it and have no clue of where to start. I am bad at math numbers aren't my talent at all math is very tough for me.

Please I beg you not to tell me that all problems are similar i have to understand the underlying concept etc. I ve tried it all it still makes no sense.
I dont understand what is meant by "underlying concept" Every problem for me is a different case, so the way I see it there are millions of concepts and no universal solution. You just get or you don't, no way around it.

I also have to add that this whole thing has become extremely frustrating and demotivating for me. I have a conditional offer from a good Bschool hanging o my CFA result, but I think I wont pass the CFA so I want to take GMAT one last time to have a b-plan to show the Bschool in case I fail CFA.

Try telling me an alternative way. Reading some book for ex. Or a post I dunno. Be creative please lol

Thanks
User avatar
G
mikemcgarry
Magoosh GMAT Instructor
Joined: 28 Dec 2011
Posts: 4452
Own Kudos [?]: 28575 [2]
Given Kudos: 130
Re: CANT solve word problems. need alternative approach [#permalink] New post   08 Jun 2017, 16:52
2
Bookmarks
Expert Reply
iliavko wrote:
Hi everyone.

I posted about this many times. I cant solve word problems. I read it and have no clue of where to start. I am bad at math numbers aren't my talent at all math is very tough for me.

Please I beg you not to tell me that all problems are similar i have to understand the underlying concept etc. I ve tried it all it still makes no sense.
I dont understand what is meant by "underlying concept" Every problem for me is a different case, so the way I see it there are millions of concepts and no universal solution. You just get or you don't, no way around it.

I also have to add that this whole thing has become extremely frustrating and demotivating for me. I have a conditional offer from a good Bschool hanging o my CFA result, but I think I wont pass the CFA so I want to take GMAT one last time to have a b-plan to show the Bschool in case I fail CFA.

Try telling me an alternative way. Reading some book for ex. Or a post I dunno. Be creative please lol

Thanks

Dear iliavko,

I'm happy to help. :-)

First of all, here are two blogs that address some aspects of the issue:
Intro to GMAT Word Problems, Part 1: Translating from Word to Math
Intro to GMAT Word Problems, Part 2: Assigning Variables
Those have a few general rules.

Part of the problem is that the category we call "Word Problems" is a grab-bag of many different problems of many different types. The only thing they really have in common is that the prompt is a paragraph. Set problems, solution/mixture problems, work problems, and distance/speed problems are four big categories that each have their own rules & patterns. Aside from a few general rules discussed in those above blogs, there's very little that's true of all word problems. Here's some more info on individual problems categories.
[urlhttps://magoosh.com/gmat/2012/gmat-solution-and-mixing-problems/]GMAT Solution and Mixing Problems[/url]
GMAT Distance and Work: Rate Formula
GMAT Math: Motion Questions
for Set problems:
GMAT Sets: Venn Diagrams
GMAT Sets: Double Matrix Method

Finally, as I am sure you can appreciate, the more you develop you own number sense, the more it will help you across the board in GMAT quant.

Does all this make sense?
Mike :-)
User avatar
G
ccooley
Manhattan Prep Instructor
Joined: 04 Dec 2015
Posts: 935
Own Kudos [?]: 1541 [0]
Given Kudos: 115
GMAT 1: 790 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Send PM
Re: CANT solve word problems. need alternative approach [#permalink] New post   14 Jun 2017, 09:59
Expert Reply
Have you worked on Backsolving? How about working with the numbers first, rather than creating equations right away? Here are two articles to check out - they were written for GRE students, but the GRE and the GMAT both have word problems, so you can use the same strategies for both.

https://www.manhattanprep.com/gre/blog/ ... cksolving/
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gre/blog/ ... le-really/

I also urge you to examine the language you're using in this post! Saying that you're bad at math or you're incapable of learning something is counterproductive. Try replacing that with some positive, goal-oriented self talk. (I know you're probably thinking something like 'no, but I actually am bad at math, so this doesn't apply to me' - but just trust me that it really does.)

https://www.theatlantic.com/education/a ... th/280914/
User avatar
B
giuliab3
Intern
Intern
Joined: 24 Jun 2017
Posts: 27
Own Kudos [?]: 29 [0]
Given Kudos: 208
Location: Singapore
Schools: INSEAD Jan '19
GMAT 1: 660 Q46 V34
GPA: 3.83
Send PM
GMAT ToolKit User
Re: CANT solve word problems. need alternative approach [#permalink] New post   04 Aug 2017, 20:09
I had the same issue with Word Problems. I would start writing many equations and then always get confused and forget what I was doing or what was the question requesting, especially with the rates/speed/work problems. I now changed method and try to force myself to make a little table to have all data in always the same standard form:
D = R x T
d1 r1 t1
d2 r2 t2

Someone else in the gmatclub forum suggested me to work from the easiest problems rather than trying the difficult ones, he/she was right: if you practice a lot the easier problems you can develop a structured thinking that is necessary to approach the more difficult problems.

Good luck!
User avatar
bumpbot
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Posts: 32703
Own Kudos [?]: 822 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: CANT solve word problems. need alternative approach [#permalink] New post   24 Oct 2020, 07:19
Hello from the GMAT Club BumpBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.
GMAT Club Bot
gmatclubot
Re: CANT solve word problems. need alternative approach [#permalink]
24 Oct 2020, 07:19
Moderator:
Bunuel
Math Expert
92950 posts

Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group | Emoji artwork provided by EmojiOne
Main navigation
GMAT Resources
Partners
MBA Resources
www.gmac.com|www.mba.com | | GMAT Club Rules | Terms and Conditions