A third-grader who has solved a problem correctly but didn't show work can demonstrate conceptual understanding by:

• A. Explaining the steps to arrive at the answer.
• B. Rounding the answer.
• C. Providing only the final answer.
• D. Using a calculator to check.

Answer: (A)

To show conceptual understanding, a student should be able to explain the steps or reasoning used to reach the answer, not just produce the final number. When they articulate how they approached the problem—what strategies they used, how they broke the numbers apart, counted, or checked their work—they reveal that they truly grasp how to solve it. This demonstrates they understand the process, which they can apply to similar problems in the future. Explaining steps helps teachers see the student’s thinking, not just the end result.

Rounding the result changes the value and doesn’t reveal the method. Providing only the final answer hides the reasoning. Relying on a calculator might verify correctness, but it doesn’t show how the student thought about the problem. Therefore, explaining the steps used to arrive at the answer best demonstrates understanding.