Written by Michael Cain

Illustrated by Mary Lou Johnson

First published in 2005 by Prufrock Press Inc.

Published in 2016 by Routledge

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Copyright © 2005 by Taylor & Francis Group

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other
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Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without
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ISBN: 9781593631062(pbk)

DOI: 10.4324/9781003236559
 Contents

Construction Malfunction
1.1 The Founding of the Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
area of a complex polygon, problem solving using formula step-by-step practice
1.2 Up Against the Walls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
problem solving using a diagram, perimeter prompted practice
1.3 Dry Wall My Wall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
rate and time independent practice
1.4 Debating on Painting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
cost of materials, number operations step-by-step practice
1.5 Winter Worries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
cost of materials, measurement, using the area formula prompted practice
1.6 The White Room . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
ratio, area independent practice
1.7 Carpeting the Stairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
measurement conversion, number operations independent practice
1.8 Roof over Their Heads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
rate, time, cost challenge
1.9 Live Wire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
measurement, number operations, estimation independent practice
1.10 Plenty of Pipes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
measurement, number operations, total cost challenge

Making Ends Meet

2.1 Figuring Out the Furniture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
real number operations, comparing numbers step-by-step
2.2 Checking and Balancing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
real number operations, algebra, comparing numbers prompted practice
2.3 Catching the Bus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
rate, time, drawing a diagram, algebra challenge
2.4 Dirty Laundry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
fractions, proportion, number relations, algebra step-by-step
2.5 More Dirty Laundry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
percent, proportion, determining pertinent information prompted practice
2.6 Mall Madness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
discount, percent of decrease independent practice
2.7 Ticket to Ride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
schedules, time independent practice
2.8 Lots of Lottery Tickets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
probability challenge
2.9 Food for Thought . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
number operations, percent independent practice
2.10 Wear and Tear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
percent of decrease challenge

3
 A Well Deserved Vacation
3.1 Fill’er Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
ratio, number operations, problem solving step-by-step
3.2 Sandwich Assembly Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
unit prices prompted practice
3.3 Car Trouble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
time, rate, drawing a diagram independent practice
3.4 Repair Scare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
rate, unit prices step-by-step
3.5 Middle of Nowhere . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
rate, scale, number conversion prompted practice
3.6 Hotel at Last . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
percent of discount independent practice
3.7 Dining Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
number operations, percent independent practice
3.8 Amusements at the Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
algebra challenge
3.9 Bungle in the Jungle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
probability independent practice
3.10 Road Side Attraction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
similar figures, ratio, proportion independent practice

Care and Feeding

4.1 Lost and Found . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
unit price step-by-step
4.2 It’s in the Bag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
unit price, comparing real numbers prompted practice
4.3 Doing the Can Can . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
unit price, comparing real numbers independent practice
4.4 Walking the Dog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
measure of central tendency step-by-step
4.5 How Big Will It Get? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
finding a pattern, making a graph, extrapolating prompted practice
4.6 Vet Bills and Budget Chills. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
percent, number operations independent practice
4.7 The Dog Show You Know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
permutations, combinations independent practice
4.8 Don’t Fence Me In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
perimeter, measurement, number operations independent practice
4.9 Gear Is Here . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
surface area challenge
4.10 How Much Does It Eat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
time, rate, unit price, projected cost challenge

4
Minding a Business
5.1 Time and Time Again . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
units of time and labor cost, multi-step problem solving independent practice
5.2 Laboring Over Cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
creating and applying formulas, using new information independent practice
5.3 Triangle Tangle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Pythagorean formula, number operations step-by-step
5.4 Ramp Champ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Pythagorean formula, operations with variables, order of operation prompted practice
5.5 Dawning of the Awning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
transform the Pythagorean formula, operations with variables independent practice
5.6 Moving Belts and Improving Belts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Pythagorean formula, multi-step problem challenge
5.7 As the Tire Turns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
measurement, circumference, number operations prompted practice
5.8 Tired of Tires. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
measurement, circumference formula, completing a chart independent practice
5.9 Thanks for the Water Tanks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
volume of a cylinder challenge
5.10 Bang for the Banquet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
using a table, applying information, multi-step problem solving independent practice

Home Sweet Home

6.1 Holiday Savings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
algebra, interest step-by-step
6.2 Saving for a Rainy Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
simple interest, algebra prompted practice
6.3 Stocking Stuffers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
real number operations independent practice
6.4 The Big Bird . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
time, units of measure conversion step-by-step
6.5 Bus Fuss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
rate, distance, algebra, comparing numbers prompted practice
6.6 Buses and Trains. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
schedules, time independent practice
6.7 Furnishing a Room. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
algebra, number operations independent practice
6.8 How Does the Garden Grow? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
geometric formulas, number operations independent practice
6.9 Preparing for Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
geometric formulas, percent, comparing real numbers independent practice
6.10 Birthday Celebration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
percent, operations with decimals independent practice

Answers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

5
 Information for the Instructor

Math for the Real World Taken as a whole, the questions cover a wide
Welcome to the world of Clever and Smart. array of math topics and cover all the major content
These two characters have a variety of the same areas used in standards-based testing. You can use all
real-world experiences that your students will have four formats or only those problems that you feel
when they are adults. Through these experiences meet the needs of your students. In a basic or
they will introduce students to many applications for remedial class, you might choose to use only the
the math processes they learn in school. Join Clever step-by-step and prompted practice problems. In an
and Smart as they build a house, budget their money, advanced math class you would probably skip the
go on vacation, care for a dog, open a business, and first two types of problems and give students the
run a household. independent practice and challenge problems.
The situations presented in each problem are Presentation and Solution
realistic circumstances that people encounter on a
This program is easy to implement. The problems
daily basis. By practicing the mathematics involved in
in Mathability need very little presentation. The
each of these situations, students not only practice
introductory paragraph and the directions give
important techniques and problem-solving strategies,
students enough information to tackle the problems.
but they also see practical applications for what they
Some of the instructions in the introduction are
are taught in school. Seeing these common situations
repeated in the directions, so students who skimmed
gives new meaning to what otherwise might be
over the first presentation of what is required will
perceived as inessential knowledge. These problems
have one more opportunity to zero in on what they
are the answer to the age-old question, "when are we
must do to.
going to use this stuff?" and are sure to build math
abilities. In all of these problems students are instructed to
do the calculations, to explain each step of the
Four Types of Problems problem solving process, and to write their final
The problems in Mathability are presented in four answer in a complete sentence. The worksheets
different formats: step-by-step, prompted practice, provide spaces for both calculations and written
independent practice, and challenge. explanations. These three components of an
• The step-by-step problems are designed for acceptable solution are aligned with current trends in
remediation or introduction to a particular type of testing. Your state or school district may or may not
problem. Each step of the solution is outlined, with stress having students write about the problem
space provided for student to do the calculations solving strategies they use. By explaining each step
and explain the work. they use and why they used it, however, students
gain a better understanding of the "whys" behind the
• The prompted practice problems include
"hows" of problem solution.
less-specific guidance and space for calculations
and explanations of each step in the solution. Each chapter presents problems that deal with a
These can be used as intermediate steps between particular aspect of real life – raising a pet, owning a
step-by-step problems and independent work. business, going on vacation, etc. At the beginning of
• The independent practice and challenge each chapter is a form that lists each problem in the
problems do not give students any guidance in chapter and has a space for recording grades. If
solving the problem. Having worked through the students are working on these units independently
step-by-step and prompted practice, students the forms can be used to record their work, so both
should have a background that will allow them to you and the students have a record of their progress.
solve these problems on their own. The challenge These chapter outlines can also be used to report
problems are more difficult than the independent progress to parents, pinpointing what types of math
practice problems and may be used to challenge skills the student has mastered or what skills need
your ablest students or to reinforce work students additional practice.
have done with the other three types of problems.

6
Assessment
The assessment of open-ended questions like the • A non-proficient answer is neither correct nor
ones presented in this book requires some sort of explained.
benchmark. The benchmark acts as a guide for Using these basic guidelines and taking the skill
assessing proficiency levels. The structure of how the level of your students into consideration, you can
answer is presented can differ widely from student to adjust your expectations for assessing each problem.
student, however, certain commonalities do exist. As a follow-up it helps to do each problem together
Answers can be viewed as four basic categories: after students have worked the problems individually
mastery, proficient, nearly proficient, and and review the explanations for each step.
non-proficient.
Presenting a similar problem on the board a day
• Mastery answers are always clear, fully explained,
or two prior to assigning one of these questions gives
well-organized, and correct. Since most state
students a familiarity with the question and its correct
standard exams are graded by individuals other
answer and will expedite the time needed for
than the math instructor, an answer must be
assessment.
understandable by anyone on grade level.
• A proficient answer is always correct, but the Get Ready for the Real World
explanation may lack clarity. Full sentences are
Mathability provides practice in open-ended
necessary for a mastery level, but often a
questions that are used on state and district standards
proficient-level answer will be in phrases and have
assessment, but more importantly, it gives students
incorrect grammar and spelling.
practice solving real-world problems. Using this
• A near-proficient level answer is either a correct format will give students a background in the
answer with no explanation or a correct different ways math can be used to save money,
explanation with a miscalculation. make decisions, and plan for the best results.