Relevant information consists of the quantities, units, conditions, and relationships needed to determine an unknown in a grade-appropriate problem, including part–whole, change, comparison, equal-group, and measurement situations with whole numbers. The learner distinguishes these facts from decorative or unnecessary details and connects them to a drawing, number line, bar model, or equation; more advanced numbers, formal algebraic variables, and generalized problem structures are not included at this level.
Read the problem carefully and ask: What do I need to know to answer the question?
Look for:
Ignore details that do not help answer the question.
Example
Mia has stickers. Her aunt gives her more stickers. Mia keeps them in a purple box. How many stickers does Mia have now?
Step 1: Find the quantities and units.
The unit is stickers.
Step 2: Find the important relationship.
Mia gets more, so the number of stickers increases. We need to add.
The purple box is an extra detail. It does not help us find the answer.
Step 3: Show the information with a drawing or equation.
You can use a bar model:
Or write an equation:
Step 4: Answer the question with the unit.
Mia has stickers now.
Before solving, check that every number in your equation comes from an important fact in the problem and that you did not use a decorative detail.
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