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Anthony S. Morfe_CAS_Math Cluster
Objective:
At the end of this presentation,
students should be able to solve
mathematical problems using
different strategies.
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Anthony S. Morfe_CAS_Math Cluster
Mathematical problem solving is
finding a way around a difficulty,
around an obstacle, and finding a
solution to a problem that is
unknown.
George Polya
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Anthony S. Morfe_CAS_Math Cluster
George Polya (1973) – father of
problem solving
Four phases of problem solving
1. Understand the problem
2. Devise a plan
3. Carry out the plan
4. Look back
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Anthony S. Morfe_CAS_Math Cluster
UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM
• Look for information given
• Visualize the information
• Organize the information
• Connect the information
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Anthony S. Morfe_CAS_Math Cluster
DEVISE A PLAN
• To make a representation
- draw a diagram
- make a systematic list
- use equations
• To make a calculated guess
- guess and check
- look for a pattern
- make suppositions
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Anthony S. Morfe_CAS_Math Cluster
DEVISE A PLAN
• To go through the process
- act it out
- work backwards
• To change the problem
- restate the problem
- simplify the problem
- solve part of the problem
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Anthony S. Morfe_CAS_Math Cluster
CARRYING OUT THE PLAN
• Use mathematical knowledge
• Use mathematical skills
• Use logical thinking
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Anthony S. Morfe_CAS_Math Cluster
LOOK BACK
• Check solution
– Is it reasonable?
• Improve on the method used
• Seek alternative solutions
• Extend the method to
other problems
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Anthony S. Morfe_CAS_Math Cluster
Guess and Check
Magic Triangle
In the first diagram, the numbers in the blue
circles are found by adding the numbers in the 2
adjacent red circles as shown. Complete the second
diagram so that the pattern holds.
8 16
2 6 6 10
14 18 11 5 15
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Anthony S. Morfe_CAS_Math Cluster
Make an Orderly List
Handshakes Problem
In a party there are 5 people. If everyone at the party
shakes hands with everyone else, how many handshakes
would there be?
A B
Table: A C Answer: 10 handshakes
A D
A E
B C
B D
B E
C D
C E
D
Anthony S. Morfe_CAS_Math Cluster
E 11
Draw a Diagram
Girl Scout Hike
A Girl Scout troop went on a hike. First they
walked 1 mile east, then 2 miles south, then 3 miles
west, and 1 mile north, then 2 miles east. How far is
the troop from their starting point?
Answer: 1 mile 1 mile
?
Illustration: 2 miles
2 miles
1 mile
3 miles
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Anthony S. Morfe_CAS_Math Cluster
Draw a Diagram
In a stock car race, the first five finishers in some order
were a Ford, a Pontiac, a Chevrolet, a Buick and a Dodge.
(a) The Ford finished 7 seconds before the Chevrolet.
(b) The Pontiac finished 6 seconds after the Buick.
(c) The Dodge finished 8 seconds after the Buick.
(d) The Chevrolet finished 2 seconds before the Pontiac.
In what order did the cars finish the race?
Answer: Ford, Buick, Chevrolet,
Illustration: 2 secs
Pontiac, Dodge
7 secs
Finish
6 secs
Line
Anthony S. Morfe_CAS_Math Cluster
8 secs 13
Look for a Pattern
Classic Frog Problem
A frog is in a well 12 feet deep. Each day it climbs up 3 feet
and each night it slips back 2 feet. How many days will it take the
frog to get out of the well? Answer: 10 days
Position at 1 ft 2 ft 3 ft 9 ft
the start of base higher higher higher ... higher
the day
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 10th
day day day day
... day 14
Anthony S. Morfe_CAS_Math Cluster
Look for a Pattern
Numerical Sequences
Fill in the next two blanks in each part.
16 ___
1, 4, 7, 10, 13, ___, 19
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Anthony S. Morfe_CAS_Math Cluster
Look for a Pattern
Numerical Sequences
Fill in the next two blanks in each part.
34 ___
19, 20, 22, 25, 29, ___, 40
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Anthony S. Morfe_CAS_Math Cluster
Look for a Pattern
Numerical Sequences
Fill in the next two blanks in each part.
36 49
1, 4, 9, 16, 25, ___, ___
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Anthony S. Morfe_CAS_Math Cluster
Look for a Pattern
What is the sum of the first ten counting
numbers?
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 + 9 + 10 = ?
Answer: 55
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Anthony S. Morfe_CAS_Math Cluster
Look for a Pattern
What is the sum of the first one
hundred counting numbers?
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + … + 95 + 96 + 97 + 98 + 99 + 100 =?
Answer: 5050
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Anthony S. Morfe_CAS_Math Cluster
Use a Variable
In order to encourage his son in the study of
Algebra, a father promised the son P8 for every problem
solved correctly and to fine him P5 for each incorrect
solution. After 26 problems neither owed anything to the
other. How many problems did the boy solve correctly?
Solution: Let x be the number of questions that the son
has solved correctly.
8x - 5(26 - x) = 0
8x -130 +5x = 0
13x = 130
x = 10
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Anthony S. Morfe_CAS_Math Cluster
Eliminate Possibilities
Elyra, Ejah, Wino, Angel and Wenet are aliens on a
space ship.
(a) Ejah is younger than Angel.
(b) Ejah is not the youngest in the group.
(c) Only one alien is older than Wenet.
(d) Wenet is younger than Wino.
Arrange Elyra, Ejah, Wino, Angel and Wenet in
order of increasing age.
Answer:
Elyra Ejah Angel Wenet Wino
Youngest Oldest21
Anthony S. Morfe_CAS_Math Cluster
Work Backwards
While three watchmen were guarding an orchard, a
thief slipped in and stole some apples. On his way out, he
met the three watchmen, one after the other. To each in
turn, he gave half of the apples he then had, and two more.
In this way he managed to escape with one apple. How
many apples did the thief steal originally?
Solution: Number of apples at hand before
meeting the 3rd watchman: (1 + 2) x 2 = 6 apples
Number of apples at hand before
meeting the 2nd watchman: (6 + 2) x 2 = 16 apples
Number of apples at hand before
st (16 + 2) x 2 = 36 apples
meeting the 1 watchman:
Answer: 36 apples
Anthony S. Morfe_CAS_Math Cluster
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Work Backwards
By 7 pm all the party guests had arrived but by 8 pm a third
of them had departed. By 9 pm a third of those remaining had
also departed. By 10 pm the same happened again and a third of
those remaining had also departed. Finally the party ended at 11
pm by which time further third of those remaining had also
departed and by 11 pm only 16 guests still remained. How many
guests were originally at the party at 7 pm?
Solution: Number of guests by 11pm: 16 guests
Number of guests by 10pm: (16 x 3)/2 = 24 guests
Number of guests by 9pm: (24 x 3)/2 = 36 guests
Number of guests by 8pm: (36 x 3)/2 = 54 guests
Number of guests by 7pm: (54 x 3)/2 = 81 guests
Answer:
Anthony 81Cluster
S. Morfe_CAS_Math guests 23
Reference
• Polya, G. (1957). How to Solve it: A New
Aspect of Mathematical [Link]:
Princeton University Press.
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Anthony S. Morfe_CAS_Math Cluster
Thank You!!!
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Anthony S. Morfe_CAS_Math Cluster