I don't know if the idea was to solve using algebra. The "new" math, as they call it, really tries to get kids to understand what they are doing, not to simply do the problem and get the right answer using a specific method. When my kids first started elementary, they had a meeting at the school to introduce the "new" math concept and why they are using it. I get whey they are teaching it this way, but I still don't understand all of the methods. I still use the traditional math that I was taught in school which totally confuses my kids when I try to help them. Luckily, DD is a good student and usually doesn't ask me for math help. I think she was just stuck because she had missed two days of lessons. The teachers is actually really great and I emailed her to tell her my daughter was struggling and she is going to sit down with her today.

Thanks for all of the help. I was totally at my wits ends yesterday trying to figure the problem out.