Lesson 3.02 - Solutions With Tables
Approximate completion time: 3 hours
Objective: When done with this lesson, you will have demonstrated how to solve simple problems using tables. |
In our last lesson we focused on the importance of clearly explaining our solutions using words. In this lesson, we'll focus on another technique that can be used in conjuncture with words.
TABLES!
With the use of a table, you can easily show trends or patterns. A good table can make a solution easy to find and easy to explain.
Let's take a look.
So Peggy's bill will total $250 only after she has worked 6 hours.
For those of you with Microsoft Excel, you have a great tool handy! Excel has some quick options like "fill down" that can make finding a solution quite easy!
If you would like to see an example of how the last table could have been done quickly in Excel, look at this spreadsheet.
Let's look at some different things to consider in tables.
d h 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
d 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 h 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Best:
days left 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 cost ($) 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Fair:
d 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 c 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Bad:
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
When it comes to making tables in Microsoft Word, there are helpful tutorials available online (like buddy project or microsoft). You can also use the help feature within Word.
To make a table in Word, the basic option is to go to the "Table" tab and "Insert" a "Table".
Or you can click on the quick insert icon on the standard toolbar. (If you don't see it, click on "View" "toolbars" and select "standard".)
A very important feature to use on your table is to adjust the column widths by resting the pointer on the column boundary you want to move until it becomes
, and then drag the boundary until the column is the width you want.
Now that you have a start on how to create a table, let's review the basic components of a good solution:
A good solution always has these parts:
- the problem situation explained
- clear, easy to follow reasoning
- the correct answer in correct units
So where does a table fit into this? The good table shows "the problem situation explained" with proper labels and shows "clear, easy to follow reasoning" with the rows and columns of numbers. Did you notice that in the example with Peggy painting, the table included the arithmetic steps? That was some ultra clear and super easy to follow reasoning.
Yet, don't forget that a table by itself will never be a complete solution. A table must always be accompanied by a conclusion sentence. Notice again in the example with Peggy painting, the solution included a conclusion sentence that gave finality to the solution using correct units.
