Doubles Word Problem Worksheet

This worksheet involves a story problem about Sam the Squirrel who doubles the number of pine cones in his basket each morning and then eats two in the afternoon. After three days, the number of pine cones in the basket grows to thirty-four. The student is tasked with working backward to determine the original number of pine cones Sam found in the basket.

The worksheet teaches students reverse arithmetic operations and the concept of working backward to solve problems. It involves exponential growth and subtraction, requiring students to apply these concepts in reverse to find the starting point of the sequence. This type of problem enhances critical thinking and helps students understand the effects of repeated operations and their reversals, which are key concepts in algebra and functions.