Why Word Problems Matter for High School Students in BC

Many students in Burnaby struggle with word problems in math — not because of the math itself, but because they don’t know how to break it down. At Dr. Shreyank Educare, we believe in making word problems easier through real-world examples and BC curriculum-aligned strategies. Whether you’re tackling Foundations of Mathematics 10 or Pre-Calculus 11, mastering word problems is essential for success.

Step-by-Step Solved Math Word Problems

Problem 1: Trigonometry – Angle of Elevation

Question: A lighthouse stands on top of an 80-meter cliff. From two boats at sea, the angles of elevation to the top are 20° and 35°, respectively. The boats are 300 meters apart. How far is the second boat from the cliff?

Solution: Use right triangle trigonometry:
x = 80 / tan(35°) ≈ 114.3 m
Answer: Approximately 114.3 meters from the cliff.

Problem 2: Algebra – Income Equation

Question: A student in Burnaby earns $15/hour tutoring. One week, they worked 4 hours more than the previous week. If they earned $495 total, how many hours did they work the first week?

Solution:
15x + 15(x + 4) = 495 ⇒ x = 14.5
Answer: 14.5 hours the first week, 18.5 hours the second week.

Problem 3: Geometry – Triangle Area

Question: A triangular park has sides of 70 m and 90 m with an angle of 75°. Find its area.

Solution:
Area = ½ × 70 × 90 × sin(75°) ≈ 3043.6 m²
Answer: Area ≈ 3043.6 m².

Problem 4: Navigation – Bearings and Law of Cosines

Question: Two hikers start from the same point. One walks 6 km north, the other 8 km at a bearing of S40°E. How far apart are they?

Solution:
d² = 6² + 8² − 2×6×8×cos(140°) ⇒ d ≈ 13.17 km
Answer: About 13.17 km apart.

Problem 5: Financial Math – Discount & Tax

Question: A $120 jacket is on 25% off at a Burnaby store. Add 12% tax. What’s the final price?

Solution:
Price after discount = 120 × 0.75 = $90
Final price = 90 × 1.12 = $100.80
Answer: $100.80.

Who Should Practice These Word Problems?

• Students preparing for BC Numeracy Assessments
• High schoolers taking Pre-Calculus 11, Math 10–12
• Students applying to college/university
• Anyone needing help with finance, navigation, and applied math

Tutoring Help in Burnaby for Word Problems

At Dr. Shreyank Educare, we provide expert 1-on-1 and group tutoring for:

✔ Pre-Calculus 11 & 12

✔ Foundations of Math 10–12

✔ Trigonometry, Algebra, Geometry, and Financial Math

✔ Numeracy Exam Prep & Real-World Problem Solving

Serving students in Burnaby, Vancouver, and across British Columbia through online and in-person support.

Ready to master word problems? Book a free consultation now!

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