Problem Solving ● Choose the strategy that you can

use to solve the problem.

What is problem solving? STEP 3. CARRY OUT THE PLAN
● Implement the strategy or
The process of working through details of a strategies that you have
problem to reach a solution. chosen until the problem is
solved.
GEORGE POLYA ● Give yourself a reasonable
One of the foremost recent mathematicians amount of time in which to
to make a study of problem solving (1887- solve the problem.
1985). He was born in Hungary and moved ● Do not be afraid of starting
to Stanford University in 1942 and taught over
there until his retirement. He published 10 STEP 4. review the solution
books and a number of articles for ● Is your solution correct?
mathematics journals. “How to solve it?” is ● Does your answer satisfy the
one of the best books Polya published. statement of the problem?
● Can you see an easier solution?
● the father of modern problem solving
● famous for his four-step process for A FLOWCHART OF SOLVING A
solving problems MATHEMATICAL PROBLEM

Polya’s Four-step Process for Solving

Problems CLASSIFICATION OF PROBLEMS

1. PROBLEMS TO FIND
STEP 1. UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM Examples:
● Do you understand all the words? ● Find the area of a square with side
● Can you restate the problem in your length of 3 inches.
own words? ● How much interest would Php
● Do you know what is given? 100,000 earn at 1.5% simple interest
● Is there enough information? rate for 6 months?
● Is there extraneous information that ● What is 45% of 580?
is not needed to solve the problem? 2. PROBLEMS TO PROVE
● Is this problem similar to another Example:
problem you have solved? ● Prove that n(n+1)(n+2)(n+3) cannot
STEP 2. DEVISE A PLAN be the square of an integer.
● Make a list of information that is
needed.
PROBLEM SOLVING STRATEGIES 2. Draw a Picture/Diagram
(heuristics) ● This strategy is appropriate to use
when a physical situation is involved;
1. Guess and Test (Guess and Check) geometric figures or measurements
● The Guess and Test strategy may are involved; a visual representation
be appropriate when: of the problem is possible.
● There is a limited number of possible
answers to test. Sample
● You have a good idea of what the 1. Can you cut a pie into 11 pieces with four
answer is. straight cuts?
● You can systematically try possible
answers.
● There is no obvious strategy to try.

Sample
1. Place the digits 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 in the
circles so that the sum of the three numbers
on each side of the triangle is 12. 2. A tetromino is a shape made up of four
squares where the squares must be joined
along an entire side. How many different
tetromino shapes are possible?

Example of a tetromino

2. In the farm yard, there are some pigs and

some chickens. T bre are 87 animals and
Answer: 5
266 legs. How many pigs are in the farm
yard?
3. Make a List
● This strategy may be appropriate
● Start by guessing how many pigs
when:
there are. Keep in mind that pigs
● Information can easily be organized
have four legs and chickens have
and presented;
two and that there are 87 animals.
● Data can easily be generated;
● Listing results obtained by using
● Suppose there are 50 pigs and 37
guess and test; and When asked
chickens. There would be 200 legs
how many ways an event may be
(pigs) and 74 legs (chickens). Try 40
done.
pigs (160 legs) and 47 chickens (94
legs). Finally, try 46 pigs (184 legs)
and 41 chickens (82 legs).

Answer: There are 46 pigs.

Sample
 1. In how many ways can the number
10 be expressed as a sum of four Use a Variable
positive odd numbers?
● This strategy may be applied when:
implied;
● A phrase similar to "for any number"
is present or
● A problem suggests an equation;
and
Answer: 3 ways ● There is an unknown quantity
related to a known quantity
2. In how many ways can 20 be
expressed as a sum of 8 odd Problems Involving the Use of a Variable
numbers?
● Number Problems
Answer: 11 ways ● Age Problems
● Investment Problems
4. Working Backwards ● Number Problems

● This strategy involves using a Number Problems examples:

solution as a starting point in solving 1. A number increased by 15 is equal to
the problem. This is useful in twice the number less than 40. find the
problems that are presented in number.
steps. 2. Twice a number less eight is equal to one
more than three times the number
Sample
Age Problems examples:
1. On Monday, Jerry put his first week's 1. Mary's father is four times as old as Mary.
earnings in an envelope and kept it in his Five years ago, he was seven times as old.
locker. On Tuesday, he added 225 Php in How old is each now?
the envelope. He took 105 Php on 2. Rose is 6 years older than Rob. 6 years
Wednesday to buy some materials for his ago, she was twice as old as him. How old
project and another 80 Php on Thursday for is each now?
other expenses. On Friday, he took half of
what was left to buy a shirt. He then had
150 Php remaining in the envelope. How
much money did he have on Monday?

2. Melissa spent twice as much money as

Doreen in the store. Aliza spent half as
much money as Doreen did. Christina spent
half as much money as Aliza did. Ellaine
spent 12 Php which was half as much as
what Christina spent. How much did each
girl spent?