Relationship Problem Situations

Explore the summary category of Relationship problem situations, including grade level content for students in grades 3-5.

The Relationship problem types feel different than Active problem types. They describe relationships between the quantities in the problem, not actions. These problems are harder to “act out” because there is no narrative. When the student reads the problem, they are interpreting the situation already found in the problem.

A Part-Part-Whole situation looks at a set of objects that make up a whole set and describes how these objects are the same. But it also measures their differences. The Whole is how they are the same and the Parts describe the attributes that make them different.

Part-Part-Whole problems often include descriptions of categories or the result of a sort.

Click here to access the Mathematizing Story Map

An Additive Comparison situation describes how one quantity compares to another, or even how it measures up. Imagine looking at two trees and comparing them. Which has more leaves? Which is taller? Which is wider?

An Additive Comparison problem includes two actual measurements and the empty space that is the difference between them.

 
 

More Mathematizing Story Maps Coming Soon!

Each Tuesday we release a new set of Mathematizing Story Maps, one for each problem situation seen here. This week we summarize the Add-To and Take-From problem situations. The new category represents all active problem situations. Be sure to check out the page summarizing Part-Part-Whole and Additive Comparison problem situations!

Next week we share a set of Multiplicative Comparison problems situations that help students learn to model their thinking.