PROBLEM SOLVING
TOPICS
• Inductive and Deductive Reasoning
• Intuition, proof, and certainty
• Polya’s 4 – steps in Problem Solving
• Problem Solving Strategies
• Mathematical Problems Involving Patterns
• Recreational Problems using Mathematics
READY?
EINSTEIN’S RIDDLE
PROBLEM 1. FOUR FUNDAMENTAL OPERATIONS
Use 4 four and the 4 fundamental
operations and apply pemdas to get
the result of 1 to 10
SOLUTION
(4 + 4 – 4) /4 = 1
(4 x 4)/(4 + 4) = 2
[(4 x 4) – 4] / 4 = 3
4 + [(4 – 4) x 4] =4
PROBLEM 2. MONTY HALL PROBLEM
LET’S MAKE A DEAL
SITUATION
The grand prize in Let’s Make a Deal is behind
one of the three doors. Less desirable prizes are
behind the other two doors. You select one of the
doors, say door 1. Monty Hall reveals one of the
less desirable prizes behind one of the other
doors. You are then given the opportunity either
to stay with your original choice or to choose the
remaining closed door.
LET’S MAKE A DEAL
QUESTION
Doyou have a better chance of winning
the grand prize by switching to the other
closed door or staying with your original
choice?
PROBLEM 3. FINDING THE NEXT TERM
What’s next?
1. 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, … 18
2. 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, … 21
3. 2, 5, 10, 17, 26,…37
4. O, T, T, F, F, S, S,… N
5.
PROBLEM 4. GUESS THE NUMBER
Consider this:
1. Pick a number.
2. Multiply the number by 8.
3. Add 6 to the product.
4. Divide the sum by two.
5. Subtract 3.
What is our conclusion?
PROBLEM 5. PATTERN IN THE PENDULUM
Length of pendulum, Period of pendulum,
in units in heartbeats
1 1
4 2
9 3
16 4
25 5
Note: 1 unit = 10 inches
Questions:
1. If a pendulum has a length of 49 units, what is its
period? 7
2. If the length of the pendulum is quadrupled, what
happens to its period? doubled
PROBLEM 6. PATTERN IN TSUNAMI
Velocity of tsunami, Height of tsunami,
in feet per second in feet
6 4
9 9
12 16
15 25
18 36
Questions:
1. What happens to the height of a tsunami when its
velocity is doubled? quadrupled
2. What should be the height of a tsunami if its velocity
is 30 feet per second? 120 ft
FOR THE SIX PROBLEMS AND ONE RIDDLE
WE SOLVE, WE HAVE USED INDUCTIVE AND
DEDUCTIVE REASONING.
DEFINITION
Inductive Reasoning is the process of
reaching a general conclusion by
examining specific examples.
Deductive Reasoning is the process of
reaching a conclusion by applying
general assumptions, procedures, or
principles.
EXAMPLES OF INDUCTIVE REASONING
1. John is an excellent swimmer.
John’s family has a swimming pool.
John’s sister Mary must also be an excellent
swimmer.
2. Elijah is good looking.
Elijah is well-behaved.
Therefore, all good looking are well-behaved.
EXAMPLES OF INDUCTIVE REASONING
3. The coin pulled from a bag is a penny.
A second coin from the bag is a penny.
Therefore, all the coins in the bag are pennies.
4. Children in the daycare center are playful.
Children in the day care center like to play with
Legos.
Therefore, playful children like to play Legos.
EXAMPLES OF DEDUCTIVE REASONING
1. All numbers ending in 0 or 5 are divisible by 5.
The number 35 ends with a 5.
Therefore, 35 is divisible by 5.
2. All squares are rectangle.
All rectangles have four sides.
Therefore, all squares have four sides.
EXAMPLES OF DEDUCTIVE REASONING
3. All plants perform photosynthesis.
Cacti are plants.
Therefore, cacti perform photosynthesis.
4. All men are mortal.
Algebra teachers are men.
Therefore, Algebra teachers are mortal.
CHALLENGE PROBLEM. REGION IN A CIRCLE
Given a circle.
1. draw a dot on the circle.
2. connect each dot on the circle. draw all
the possible line segments.
3. count the maximum number of regions
formed by connecting the dots on the circle.
4. complete the table below.
Number of dots 1 2 3 4 5 6
Maximum number of regions 1 2 4 8 16
DEFINITION
COUNTEREXAMPLE
A statement is true statement provided that it is
true in all cases. If you can find one case for
which a statement is not true, called a counter
example, then the statement is a false
statement.
FIND A COUNTEREXAMPLE
Verify that each of the following statements is
false statement by finding a counterexample.
For all number x:
1. 𝑥 > 0 0
2. 𝑥 2 < 𝑥 0 and 1
3. 𝑥2 = 𝑥 -1
DEFINITION
INTUITION is the ability to understand something
instinctively, without the need for conscious
reasoning.
PROOF is an argument which convinces other people
that something is true. Mathematical Proof is an
inferential argument for a mathematical statement.
It is a conclusive evidence or an argument that
serves to establish a fact or the truth of something.
DEFINITION
CERTAINTY is total continuity and validity of
inquiries to the highest degree of precision. It is a
conclusion or outcome that is beyond doubt. A
mathematical certainty is something that is
certain or most likely to happen.
WHAT MUST STUDENTS DO WHEN
SOLVING PROBLEMS?
To solve even simple problems, students
must:
-understand the vocabulary and instructions
contained within the problem
-recall mathematical rules and formulas
-recognize patterns
-use sequential ordering to solve multi-step
problems
WHAT DOES NCTM SAY ABOUT
PROBLEM SOLVING?
The difference between successful and
unsuccessful problem solvers lies in their
beliefs about problem solving, themselves
as problem solvers, and about ways to
approach solving problems.
When students who believe that math
problems can be solved quickly, and
directly don’t immediately know how to
solve a problem, they give up.
Polya’s Problem–Solving Strategy
[Link]: Understand the
problem.
[Link] Time/Insight: Devise a
Plan.
[Link]: Carry out the plan.
[Link]: Review the solution.
1. READ AND UNDERSTAND THE
PROBLEM
READ the problem carefully and
RESTATE it in your own words.
HIGHLIGHT important information and
ignore what is not needed.
DETERMINE the question to be solved.
2. PLAN A SOLUTION
CHOOSE a strategy to help you solve the
problem
-find a pattern -guess and check
-make an organized list -draw a diagram
-write an equation -work backward
-solve a simpler problem -read a table/chart
DECIDE what mathematical operation(s)
need to be used
3. SOLVE THE PROBLEM
ESTIMATE your answer.
SHOW all work.
If the plan does not seem to be
working, then start over and try
another approach.
The key is to keep trying until
something works.
CHECK YOUR SOLUTION
RESTATE the question.
DOUBLE CHECK your answer to
be sure it is reasonable.
ADD necessary units or labels.
Is there another way of doing the
problem which may be simpler?
SAMPLE PROBLEM
Middle School Student Populations
Name of Female Male
School Students Students
Lincoln 980 862
Mason 714 894
Washington 568 761
How many more students are at Lincoln Middle
School than at Washington Middle School?
SOLUTION
Female Male Total
Lincoln 980 862 1842
Washington 568 761 1329
1842 – 1329 = 513
There were 513 more students in Lincoln than
in Washington.
OTHER POSSIBLE QUESTIONS
How many more male students than female students
are there?
How many total students are there at all three
schools?
Which school has the largest or smallest
population?
What is the difference between the school with the
largest population and the one with the smallest
population?
What is the mean of the female or male students?
SOLVE THE PROBLEM
Find the sum of the first 100 natural
numbers.
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + . . . +96 + 97 + 98 + 99
+ 100
Ans. 5050
SOLUTION
Pattern:
1 + 100 = 101
2 + 99 = 101
3 + 98 = 101
4 + 97 = 101 …
How many pairs are there from 1 to 100?
100 ÷ 2 = 50 pairs
50 x 101 = 5050
SOLVE THE PROBLEM
Pearl read 10 pages of a book on Monday.
She read 1/3 of the remainder on Tuesday.
If she still had 24 pages to read, how many
pages were there in the book?
Ans. 46 pages
SOLUTION
2 units → 24
1 unit → 12
3 units → 36
What do I need to find?
36 + 10 = 46
There were 46 pages in the book.
SOLVE THE PROBLEM
A total of 100 chickens and carabaos are in
a farm. If the total number of legs of the
animals is 340, how many carabaos are
there?
Ans. 70 carabaos and 30 chickens
SOLUTION
PROBLEM SOLVING STRATEGIES
(HTTPS://[Link])
Create a diagram
• Draw a picture, have people play roles, or
use manipulatives to act the problem
out.
• Manipulate your materials to find the
solution to the problem.
• Remember – different pictures might all
lead to the correct solution.
• Label the steps as you work out the
problem.
Guess-and-check
• Think of answer that might work, and
then test your guess.
• If your guess isn’t right, think about how
you can change it to get closer to the
answer.
• Write down your guesses so you can start
seeing patters, and use the information
to make revised guesses.
• Repeat until you reach the exact answer.
PROBLEM SOLVING STRATEGIES
(HTTPS://[Link])
Use a table or make a list
• Decide what information needs to
go on your chart.
• List all the possibilities in a table
or chart to make sure pieces of
the problem don’t get lost.
• Organize and record the
information so it makes sense.
PROBLEM SOLVING STRATEGIES
(HTTPS://[Link])
Draw pictures, diagrams, sketches, maps
and other representation
Drawings help solve mathematical
problems.
Precise measurements and careful
drawings lead to accurate solution.
Logical reasoning
• Organize your information.
• Examine relationships, and
think about your information to
form a logical answer.
• Generalize each relationship to
reach a logical conclusion.
PROBLEM SOLVING STRATEGIES
(HTTPS://[Link])
Find a pattern
• List the information you know, and
identify the information you need to
find.
• Make an organized list or table.
• Examine your list for a recognized
pattern.
• Use the pattern to find the missing
information.
PROBLEM SOLVING STRATEGIES
(HTTPS://[Link])
Working backwards
• Start with the end of a problem, and work
step-by-step toward the beginning to get
a solution.
• Write down what you don’t know and
what you do know.
• Write down each step as you get closer to
the answer.
• The last step will verify that the solution
works.
PROBLEM SOLVING STRATEGIES
(HTTPS://[Link])
Solve Similar but Simpler
Problems
• Divide the problem to
smaller and easiest steps.
• Rewording the problem using
smaller numbers.
PROBLEM SOLVING STRATEGIES
(HTTPS://[Link])
Apply Mathematical Concepts and
Formulas
Use of algebraic expressions.
Use of mathematical theorems.
Use of equations and formulas.
PROBLEM SOLVING STRATEGIES
(HTTPS://[Link])
ACT-IT-OUT
Itis an effective strategy for
demonstration purposes and to have a
better grip of the problem on hand.
Devices use to act out the problem are
considered equipment.
What is your plan?
PROBLEM 1.
Jeff wishes to walk along the streets from
point A to point B. How many direct routes
canA Jeff take?First Avenue
Ans. 35
Solve a
Fourth Street
Second Street
Fifth Street
Second Avenue
First Street
simpler
Third Avenue
but
similar
Fourth Avenue B problem
PROBLEM 2.
A baseball team won two out of their last
four games. In how many different orders
could they have two wins and two losses
in four games?
Ans. 6
Make an organized list.
WWLL, WLWL, WLLW, LLWW, LWLW, LWWL
PROBLEM 3.
In a basketball league consisting of 10
teams, each team plays each of the other
teams exactly three times. How many
league games will be played?
Ans. 45 games x 3 = 135
Solve a similar but simpler
problem or organized listing
PROBLEM 4.
Determine the digit 100 places to the
right of the decimal point in the decimal
representation 7/27?
Ans. 2
Make a table and
look for a pattern
PROBLEM 5.
In consecutive turns of a Monopoly game, Brix
first paid P800 for a hotel. He then lost half
her money when he landed on Boardwalk.
Next, he collected P200 for passing GO. He
then lost half of his remaining money when he
landed on Illinois Avenue. Brix now has
P2500. How much money did he have just
before he purchased the hotel?
Ans. P10400
Work backwards
PROBLEM 6
The product of the ages, in years, of three
teenagers is 4590. None of the teens are
the same age. What are the ages of the
teenagers?
Ans. 15, 17, 18
Guess and check
PROBLEM 7.
In a farmyard there are some pigs and
some chickens. In fact there are 87
animals and 266 legs. How many pigs are
there in the farmyard?
Ans. 41 chickens and 46 pigs
Use algebraic operation or
guess and check
Question: Is the process of guessing at a
solution and checking your result one of
the Polya’s problem – solving strategies?
SOLVING RECREATIONAL PROBLEMS
Recreational mathematics involves problems,
riddles, puzzles, brain-teasers and games
carried out for recreation or leisure.
It employs creative problem-solving, logical
reasoning approaches, reflective thinking and
algebra techniques.
KENKEN PUZZLE
MAGIC SQUARES
A magic square of order n is an arrangement of
numbers in square such that the sum of the n
numbers in each row, column, and diagonal is the
same number.
2 13
4 9 2 10 11
3 5 7 6 12
8 1 6 4 15 1
DRIVING TIME
You need to buy groceries at the supermarket,
deposit a check at the credit union, and purchase
a book at the bookstore. You can complete the
errands in any order; however, you must start and
end at your home. The driving time in minutes
between each of these locations is given in the
following figure.
TOWER OF HANOI
CHERYL’S BIRTHDAY
SOLVING WOLVERINE’S PUZZLE
EXPLORATIONS
Write an essay that explains how the Conway’s
Game of Life is played and some of the reasons why
it continues to be a popular game.
Use a search engine to find a website that provides
a simulation of the Monty Hall problem. This
problem is also known as the three-door problem.
Play the simulation 30 times using the strategy of
switching and 30 times using the strategy of not
switching. On the basis of this experiment, which
strategy seems to be the best strategy for winning
the grand prize? What type of reasoning have you
used?
Thank you for listening!
ASSIGNMENT
Read Chapter 4
DATA MANAGEMENT