CEUET Mathematics — Word Problems — Number, Age, Work, Motion, Mixture, InvestmentMemory Anchors

Tags

• strategy
• sequence
• process

Topic

General Problem-Solving Strategy

Concept

The 3 R's and ESP Strategy for Word Problems

Anchor Id

A1

Difficulty

easy

Memory Aid

Remember 'REP ESP' - like a famous rapper with psychic powers! READ (the problem), REPRESENT (with variables), RELATE (variables to each other), then ESP: EQUATE, SOLVE, PROVE.

Anchor Type

acronym

Why It Works

The rapper ESP image is memorable and the acronym groups the 6 steps into two catchy chunks, making the sequence unforgettable.

Example Usage

When facing any word problem, visualize the rapper ESP and go through each letter: R-E-P then E-S-P

Recall Trigger

Think of a rapper on stage solving math problems with supernatural powers

Tags

• translation
• keywords
• operations

Topic

Translation Keywords

Concept

Translation Keywords for Mathematical Operations

Anchor Id

A2

Difficulty

easy

Memory Aid

Picture a SAMS (Samsung) phone with 4 apps: PLUS app (sum, more than, increased by), MINUS app (less than, decreased by, difference), TIMES app (product, of, twice), DIVIDE app (quotient, per). The phone's EQUALS button says 'is, was, will be'.

Anchor Type

visual_association

Why It Works

The familiar smartphone interface creates a mental filing system for operation keywords, and SAMS helps remember the 4 operations (Subtraction, Addition, Multiplication, Division).

Example Usage

When you see 'the product of 4 and x', open the TIMES app and write 4x

Recall Trigger

Visualize opening apps on a Samsung phone

Tags

• translation
• order
• subtraction

Topic

Translation Keywords

Concept

Switching Rule for 'Less Than' and 'Subtracted From'

Anchor Id

A3

Difficulty

medium

Memory Aid

Maria has 4 apples. Juan says 'I want 4 less than what Maria has' (Maria's amount minus 4). But if Juan says '4 subtracted from Maria's apples', he's taking 4 away from Maria's pile. In both cases, we SWITCH and put Maria's amount first: x - 4.

Anchor Type

micro_story

Why It Works

The story shows why the switching happens naturally in Filipino context, and Maria/Juan are common Filipino names making it relatable.

Example Usage

For '4 less than twice a number', think Juan wants 4 less than Maria's 2x apples: 2x - 4

Recall Trigger

Think of Maria and Juan sharing apples, and who comes first in the math

Tags

• consecutive
• patterns
• integers

Topic

Number Problems

Concept

Consecutive Integer Patterns

Anchor Id

A4

Difficulty

medium

Memory Aid

Picture stepping stones across a river: Regular integers step by 1 (x, x+1, x+2), but odd/even stones are spaced wider, stepping by 2 (x, x+2, x+4). The river represents the number line.

Anchor Type

visual_association

Why It Works

The stepping stone metaphor makes the +1 vs +2 pattern visually clear and memorable through physical movement.

Example Usage

For 3 consecutive even integers, place stepping stones 2 apart: x, x+2, x+4

Recall Trigger

Visualize crossing a river on stepping stones

Tags

• digits
• place_value
• representation

Topic

Digit Problems

Concept

Two-Digit Number Representation

Anchor Id

A5

Difficulty

medium

Memory Aid

A two-digit number is like a jeepney route: The tens digit is the MAIN route number (multiplied by 10), and the ones digit is the SPECIFIC stop number (multiplied by 1). Route 56 means 5 main routes × 10 + 6 specific stops × 1.

Anchor Type

analogy

Why It Works

Jeepneys are uniquely Filipino and the route system mirrors place value perfectly, making 10x + y intuitive.

Example Usage

If tens digit is x and ones digit is y, the number is like Route 10x + y

Recall Trigger

Think of reading jeepney route numbers

Tags

• time
• relationships
• aging

Topic

Age Problems

Concept

Age Problem Time Relationships

Anchor Id

A6

Difficulty

medium

Memory Aid

Walk through your house timeline: Living room = Present ages, Kitchen = Past ages (subtract years), Bedroom = Future ages (add years). Everyone ages at the same rate as you walk through rooms.

Anchor Type

method_of_loci

Why It Works

The spatial memory of house rooms creates a natural timeline, and the consistent aging concept becomes physically intuitive.

Example Usage

If present ages are in the living room, move to kitchen (subtract 2) for '2 years ago'

Recall Trigger

Walk through your house from living room to bedroom

Tags

• formula
• work_rate
• collaboration

Topic

Work Problems

Concept

Work Rate Formula: 1/n + 1/m = 1/h

Anchor Id

A7

Difficulty

medium

Memory Aid

Think of two water faucets filling a swimming pool: Faucet A fills 1/n pools per hour, Faucet B fills 1/m pools per hour. Together they fill 1/h pools per hour. It's like combining water flow rates!

Anchor Type

analogy

Why It Works

Water flowing from faucets is a concrete, visual representation of abstract work rates that students can easily visualize.

Example Usage

If Ana finishes a job in 4 hours and Ben in 6 hours, think: 1/4 + 1/6 = 1/h faucets

Recall Trigger

Picture two faucets filling a pool together

Tags

• formula
• motion
• distance

Topic

Motion Problems

Concept

Distance = Velocity × Time (D = VT)

Anchor Id

A8

Difficulty

easy

Memory Aid

Distance, Velocity, Time - remember this rhyme: 'Darna Visits Tondo, flying Very fast through Time!' D = V × T, where Darna's distance equals her velocity times time flying.

Anchor Type

rhyme

Why It Works

Darna is an iconic Filipino superhero, making the formula culturally memorable, and the rhyme structure aids recall.

Example Usage

When solving motion problems, think 'Darna Visits Tondo' and write D = V × T

Recall Trigger

Picture Darna flying to Tondo

Tags

• setup
• scenarios
• relationships

Topic

Motion Problems

Concept

Motion Problem Setup Strategy

Anchor Id

A9

Difficulty

medium

Memory Aid

Two tricycle drivers, Mang Jose and Mang Pedro, start from opposite ends of EDSA. They're racing toward each other - their distances ADD UP to total EDSA length. But if one is chasing the other in the same direction, their distances must be EQUAL when the faster one catches up.

Anchor Type

micro_story

Why It Works

Filipino tricycle drivers on EDSA is relatable, and the opposite vs same direction scenarios create clear visual distinctions.

Example Usage

Meeting problems: distances add up. Chasing problems: distances are equal when caught

Recall Trigger

Think of tricycle drivers on EDSA racing

Tags

• percentage
• solutions
• mixtures

Topic

Mixture Problems

Concept

Solution Percentage Concept

Anchor Id

A10

Difficulty

medium

Memory Aid

A solution is like halo-halo: The solute (salt/sugar) is like the ube, beans, and sweets - the FLAVOR parts. The solvent (water) is like the shaved ice - the BASE that holds everything. A 20% saline solution is like halo-halo that's 20% flavor ingredients and 80% ice.

Anchor Type

analogy

Why It Works

Halo-halo is distinctly Filipino and the mixture concept perfectly parallels chemical solutions, making percentages intuitive.

Example Usage

For 30% solution problems, imagine halo-halo that's 30% flavoring, 70% ice

Recall Trigger

Picture making halo-halo with different ingredient ratios

Tags

• formula
• interest
• investment

Topic

Investment Problems

Concept

Interest Formula: I = PRT

Anchor Id

A11

Difficulty

easy

Memory Aid

I PaRTy! - 'I love to PaRTy with my money!' Interest = Principal × Rate × Time. Picture yourself partying because your money earned interest!

Anchor Type

acronym

Why It Works

PaRTy is phonetically identical to PRT, and the celebration connects emotionally to earning money, making it memorable.

Example Usage

For investment problems, shout 'I PaRTy!' and write I = P × R × T

Recall Trigger

Think of partying because your investment earned money

Tags

• organization
• table
• setup

Topic

Mixture Problems

Concept

Mixture Problem Table Setup

Anchor Id

A12

Difficulty

medium

Memory Aid

Picture a sari-sari store inventory table: 3 columns like store shelves - % Solution (concentration label), Volume (how many bottles), Pure Solute (actual content). Each row is a different product, plus a TOTAL row at bottom like store summary.

Anchor Type

visual_association

Why It Works

Sari-sari stores are everywhere in the Philippines, and inventory management mirrors mixture problem organization perfectly.

Example Usage

Draw your mixture table like organizing store inventory: % | Volume | Pure Content

Recall Trigger

Visualize organizing products on sari-sari store shelves

Tags

• scenarios
• relationships
• splitting

Topic

Investment Problems

Concept

Investment Problem Scenarios

Anchor Id

A13

Difficulty

hard

Memory Aid

Tita Rosa splits her ₱50,000 pasalip between two banks: BPI at 6% and BDO at 8%. She's smart - the HIGH interest investment (BDO) earns MORE than the LOW interest (BPI). The problem tells you the RELATIONSHIP between earnings to find how much went where.

Anchor Type

micro_story

Why It Works

Filipino family context (Tita Rosa, pasalip culture) and familiar banks make investment scenarios relatable and memorable.

Example Usage

Set up two investment amounts that add to total, with different rates earning different amounts

Recall Trigger

Think of Tita Rosa managing her pasalip money

Tags

• rates
• fractions
• collaboration

Topic

Work Problems

Concept

Work Problem Time Logic

Anchor Id

A14

Difficulty

medium

Memory Aid

Think of cooking rice: If you can cook 1 pot in 30 minutes ALONE, you cook 1/30 of a pot per minute. If your partner cooks 1 pot in 20 minutes ALONE, they cook 1/20 per minute. TOGETHER, you cook 1/30 + 1/20 pots per minute.

Anchor Type

visual_association

Why It Works

Rice cooking is universal in Filipino households, and the per-minute breakdown makes fractional rates intuitive.

Example Usage

Convert 'hours to complete' into 'fraction completed per hour', then add fractions

Recall Trigger

Picture cooking rice with someone else

Tags

• variables
• time
• assignment

Topic

Age Problems

Concept

Age Problem Variable Assignment

Anchor Id

A15

Difficulty

easy

Memory Aid

PAST-PRESENT-FUTURE: Always assign your variable to the PRESENT age (easiest to understand), then subtract for PAST, add for FUTURE. Think PPF like 'Please Pay First' - always start with Present!

Anchor Type

chunking

Why It Works

The acronym PPF mirrors a common Filipino business phrase, and starting with present ages is the most logical approach.

Example Usage

Let x = present age, then (x-3) = 3 years ago, (x+5) = 5 years from now

Recall Trigger

Think 'Please Pay First' - start with Present age

Tags

• translation
• order
• process

Topic

Number Problems

Concept

Number Problem Translation Order

Anchor Id

A16

Difficulty

medium

Memory Aid

When translating sentences, follow LORI: Look for the variable noun first, Order operations from left to right, Remember to switch for 'less than' and 'subtracted from', Identify the equals word (is, was, will be).

Anchor Type

mnemonic

Why It Works

LORI is a common Filipino name, making the 4-step process personal and memorable through name association.

Example Usage

For 'twice a number decreased by 5 equals 13', LORI helps: Look (number=x), Order (2x-5), Remember (no switching needed), Identify (equals) → 2x-5=13

Recall Trigger

Think of your friend LORI helping you translate

Tags

• reversal
• representation
• logic

Topic

Digit Problems

Concept

Digit Problem Reversal Logic

Anchor Id

A17

Difficulty

medium

Memory Aid

Reversing digits is like flipping a playing card: If the original number is 10x + y (like King of Hearts = 10×King + Hearts), then the reversed number is 10y + x (like Hearts of King = 10×Hearts + King). Same cards, different order!

Anchor Type

analogy

Why It Works

Playing cards are familiar and the suit-number reversal perfectly mirrors digit reversal in an entertaining way.

Example Usage

Original: 10x + y, Reversed: 10y + x, like flipping card components

Recall Trigger

Picture flipping a playing card to reverse its parts

Tags

• compound
• growth
• comparison

Topic

Investment Problems

Concept

Compound Interest vs Simple Interest

Anchor Id

A18

Difficulty

hard

Memory Aid

Simple interest is like lending to a friend - they pay the same amount each period, never growing. Compound interest is like viral TikTok videos - it grows on TOP of previous growth! Your money earns money, then that earned money ALSO earns money.

Anchor Type

micro_story

Why It Works

The TikTok viral analogy perfectly captures exponential growth that teenagers understand, contrasting with simple linear friend-lending.

Example Usage

Simple: same interest each period. Compound: interest earns interest, like viral growth

Recall Trigger

Think: friend loan vs viral TikTok growth

Tags

• units
• conversion
• consistency

Topic

Motion Problems

Concept

Motion Problem Time Units

Anchor Id

A19

Difficulty

medium

Memory Aid

Picture a jeepney speedometer with THREE clocks: Big clock shows HOURS (kph matches this), medium clock shows MINUTES (convert by ÷60), small clock shows SECONDS (convert by ÷3600). Always match your speed units to time units!

Anchor Type

visual_association

Why It Works

Jeepney dashboard is familiar to Filipino students, and three different clocks create visual unit hierarchy.

Example Usage

If speed is kph (per hour), time must be in hours. If speed is m/s, time must be seconds

Recall Trigger

Look at jeepney dashboard with three clocks

Tags

• verification
• checking
• strategy

Topic

General Problem-Solving

Concept

Word Problem Verification Strategy

Anchor Id

A20

Difficulty

easy

Memory Aid

After solving, CHECK using SANA: Substitute your answer, Are the units correct? Numbers make sense? Answer fits the question? SANA means 'hopefully' - hopefully your answer is right!

Anchor Type

acronym

Why It Works

SANA is a common Filipino word expressing hope, making the checking process feel natural and culturally relevant.

Example Usage

Found x=5? SANA check: Substitute 5, Are units right? 5 makes sense? Answers the question?

Recall Trigger

Say 'SANA correct!' and verify using each letter

Formula

D = V × T

Mnemonic

Darna Visits Tondo - Distance = Velocity × Time

When To Use

All motion problems involving distance, speed, and time relationships

What Each Part Means

D is distance traveled, V is velocity/speed, T is time duration

Formula

Work Rate: 1/n + 1/m = 1/h

Mnemonic

One over N plus one over M equals one over H - like filling pools with multiple faucets

When To Use

When two or more people/machines work together on the same job

What Each Part Means

n = time person 1 works alone, m = time person 2 works alone, h = time working together

Formula

I = P × R × T

Mnemonic

I PaRTy! - Interest = Principal × Rate × Time

When To Use

Simple interest investment and loan problems

What Each Part Means

I = interest earned, P = principal amount invested, R = interest rate, T = time period

Formula

Two-digit number: 10x + y

Mnemonic

Jeepney route: 10 times the main route plus the specific stop

When To Use

Digit problems involving two-digit number relationships

What Each Part Means

x = tens digit, y = ones digit, 10x gives tens place value, y gives ones place value

Formula

Consecutive integers: x, x+1, x+2, ...

Mnemonic

Stepping stones across river - each stone is 1 step apart

When To Use

Problems with consecutive whole numbers

What Each Part Means

x = first integer, each next integer adds 1 more

Formula

Consecutive odd/even: x, x+2, x+4, ...

Mnemonic

Wide stepping stones - each stone is 2 steps apart for odd or even

When To Use

Problems with consecutive odd numbers or consecutive even numbers

What Each Part Means

x = first odd/even number, each next number adds 2

Formula

Mixture: (% × Volume) gives Pure Solute amount

Mnemonic

Halo-halo recipe: percentage of flavoring times total volume gives actual flavor amount

When To Use

All mixture and solution problems

What Each Part Means

% = concentration as decimal, Volume = total solution amount, Pure Solute = actual substance amount

Chain Title

Word Problem Solving Steps

Recall Test

What are the 6 steps to solve any word problem?

Memory Chain

REP ESP - Rapper ESP with psychic powers: READ the problem, REPRESENT with variables, RELATE variables, then ESP (EQUATE-SOLVE-PROVE) with supernatural math powers

Items To Remember

• READ
• REPRESENT
• RELATE
• EQUATE
• SOLVE
• PROVE

Chain Title

Types of Word Problems

Recall Test

What are the 6 main types of word problems covered?

Memory Chain

NAW-MiMi: Number problems, Age problems, Work problems, then Motion-Mixture-Investment (MiMi sounds like 'Me-Me' - all about me managing different problem types)

Items To Remember

• Number
• Age
• Work
• Motion
• Mixture
• Investment

Chain Title

Motion Problem Scenarios

Recall Test

What are the three main motion problem scenarios and their distance relationships?

Memory Chain

SOR: Same=equal, Opposite=add, Round=total. Think of SORry for getting motion problems wrong before learning this!

Items To Remember

• Same direction - distances equal when caught
• Opposite directions - distances add to total
• Round trip - use total distance

Chain Title

Investment Problem Setup

Recall Test

What are the 4 key components of investment problems?

Memory Chain

PDIS: Principal Divides Into Splits, Different Interest rates, Interest relationship Statement, Solve for splits. Think 'Please Don't Ignore Solutions'

Items To Remember

• Principal splits into two parts
• Different rates for each part
• Interest relationship given
• Solve for how much at each rate

Chain Title

Age Problem Time Frames

Recall Test

How do you handle different time frames in age problems?

Memory Chain

Walk through house: Present in living room, Past in kitchen (subtract), Future in bedroom (add), Same aging rate as you walk through

Items To Remember

• Present ages (assign variables)
• Past ages (subtract years)
• Future ages (add years)
• Same aging rate for everyone