LEVEL I · MATH · PARENT GUIDE
Turning word problems into “aha” moments
By the Kumon Answer Book Editorial TeamLast updated:
Make sense of the story before reaching for the algebra.
Let’s find x.
x² + 5x + 6What does this guide cover?
- Factoring refresher (the engine of the level)
- Quadratic equations
- Square roots
- Word problems: numbers, ages, geometry
How should we work through these examples?
Let your child try first, then walk through the steps together. Original examples in the style of the level, written for parents — never reproduced worksheets. These pair with the Math Level I: Factoring & Quadratics parent guide for the full level picture.
EXAMPLE 01A parent walkthrough
A number squared plus five times the number equals 36. Find the number.
Let the number be x: x² + 5x = 36.
Rearrange: x² + 5x - 36 = 0.
Factor: (x + 9)(x - 4) = 0, so x = 4 or x = -9.
FINAL ANSWER
x = 4 (or -9)
EXAMPLE 02A parent walkthrough
A rectangle's length is 3 more than its width, and its area is 40. Find the width.
w(w + 3) = 40.
w² + 3w - 40 = 0.
(w + 8)(w - 5) = 0 → width = 5, length = 8. (Width can't be negative.)
FINAL ANSWER
Width 5, length 8
EXAMPLE 03A parent walkthrough
Solve: √x = 6
Square both sides to undo the root.
x = 36.
Check: √36 = 6 ✓
FINAL ANSWER
x = 36
Which mistakes should parents watch for?
- Forgetting the negative solution of a quadratic
- Accepting impossible answers (a negative length)
- Mistranslating phrases like “3 more than” (it's x + 3, in that order)