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A situational problem is a mathematical problem that involves several fields of mathematics (arithmetic, algebra, geometry, probability, statistics). The way to solve a particular situational problem has not been taught in class before. It is up to the student to develop their own strategy, which means that the same situational problem can often be solved in different ways and lead to several acceptable solutions.
A situational problem is often based on a long mathematical statement that includes a lot of data. Thus, it is important to have a solid strategy for finding an acceptable solution. What makes solving situational problems difficult is not the calculations themselves, but rather understanding the statement and choosing an effective approach.
Below is a seven-step problem-solving strategy that can be applied to any situational problem in mathematics. The first four steps, which are the most crucial, focus on preparing properly before starting the calculations.