Webinars SET A - Grade 3-4 - Sunday@3:15-4:15pm EST-Recording Webinar 8

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The webinar focused on solving "working backwards" problems, a key strategy for Math Kangaroo contests, where the final result is given and the goal is to find the initial state by reversing each step. Using examples like navigating city blocks, candy sharing, and money earned from ice cream sales, the presenters demonstrated how to undo actions step-by-step—such as reversing directions or performing inverse operations—to identify the starting point. Participants practiced problems involving coordinate grids, flowcharts, and algebraic reasoning to enhance their understanding. Challenges included tracking swaps in seating orders, calculating sales over time, and determining event start times (e.g., setting alarms based on routines). Red herrings and answer choice traps were highlighted to encourage careful reading and verification of solutions. The importance of checking answers by working forward after solving backwards was stressed, alongside testing options when stuck. The presenters encouraged practice with past contests and introduced an upcoming webinar series for further preparation. Multiple solution methods were shared to accommodate different learning styles and promote confidence. Overall, the lesson emphasized strategic problem-solving, verifying results, and building efficiency—all vital skills for Math Kangaroo success.

Keywords

working backwards

Math Kangaroo

problem solving strategies

inverse operations

coordinate grids

algebraic reasoning

flowcharts

answer verification

multiple solution methods