MMW TOPIC 4 The Art of Problem Solving6

The Art of
Problem
Solving
Module 4
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:
q Gain an understanding of the key concepts of problem solving
q Analyze the information based on the given condition of a
problem
q Apply Polya’s rule in solving the problem
q Analyze the principle applied in tricks of patterns
q Solve problems and examine the principle applied
PROBLEM
P r o b l e m – situation that needs to be
resolved
- no solution is readily apparent
Routine Problem
- solved using methods that are familiar
- solved by replicating previously
learned methods
Non routine problem

- no predictable, well rehearsed
approach that is explicitly outlined or
worked out
PROBLEM SOLVING
Problem Solving
● The skill of finding a way out of a difficulty, a way
around an obstacle, attaining an aim, which is not
immediately attainable (Polya, 1957)
● George Pólya was a Hungarian mathematician.
● Polya: “The Father of Problem Solving”
● He made fundamental contributions to combinatorics,
number theory, numerical analysis and probability
theory. He is also noted for his work in heuristics and
mathematics education.
Polya's Problem Solving Techniques
• In 1945, George Polya published the book How To Solve It
which quickly became his most prized publication.
• It sold over one million copies and has been translated into
17 languages.
• In this book he identifies four basic principles of problem
solving.
Polya's Problem Solving Techniques
Preparation Step Step Thinking Time
Understand 01 02 Devise a
the Problem plan
Verification Step Step Insight

Look Back 04 03 Carry out the plan
Step 1. Understand the problem
Preparation
● Reading the problem slowly
● Recognizing the given
problem
● Full understanding of the
words used in the problem
which can be restated on
one’s own words to be able
to identify what is being
asked for
Step 2. Devise a plan
Thinking Time
• There are many
reasonable ways to solve problems
• The skill lies in choosing an appropriate strategy
• This is best learned by solving many problems
• You will find choosing a strategy increasingly easy
11
Step 3. Carry out the plan

Insight
• Step where identified plan is applied to solve the
problem
• If plan does not work, it can be modified or changed
• Common sense and natural thinking can help in this
step
• The key is to keep trying until
something works
Step 4. Look back
Verification
• Step where answers can be verified and checked
• Where mistakes can be identified
• Opportunity to make connections
• Time to review what you have done, what worked and
what didn’t
• Doing this will enable you to predict what strategy to
use to solve future problems
Sample Problems with the
Application of Polya’s Rule
1. Draw Picture
2. Guess and Test
3. Use a Table or Make a List
4. Logical Reasoning
5. Look for a Pattern
Draw Picture
Example: Laura has 3 green chips, 4 blue chips and 1 red chip in her bag. What fractional part of
the bag of chips is green?
Step 1: Understand the problem.
What do you need to find?

● You need to find how many chips are in all.
● Then you need to find how many of the chips are green.
Draw Picture
Step 2: Devise a plan (translate).
How can you solve the problem?
● You can draw a picture to show the information.
● Then you can use the picture to find the answer.
Step 3: Carry out the plan (solve).

Draw 8 chips.
Step 4: Look back (check and interpret).

● 3/8 of the chips are green.
Guess and Test
Example: Mr. Jones has a total of 25 chickens and cows on his farm. How many of each does
he have if all together there are 76 feet?

● We are given in the problem that there are 25 chickens and cows.
● All together there are 76 feet.
● Chickens have 2 feet and cows have 4 feet.
● We are trying to determine how many cows and how many chickens Mr. Jones has on his
farm.
Guess and Test

● Going to use Guess and test along with making a tab.
● Many times, the strategy below is used with guess and test.
● Make a table and look for a pattern.
Procedure: Make a table reflecting the data in the problem. If done in an orderly way, such a table
will often reveal patterns and relationships that suggest how the problem can be solved.
Guess and Test
Number of Number of Total number of
Chickens Cows chicken feet cow feet feet
20 5 40 20 60
21 4 42 16 58
Notice we are going in the wrong direction! The total number of feet is decreasing!
19 6 38 24 62
Better! The total number of feet is increasing!

15 10 30 40 70
12 13 24 52 76
Guess and Test
● Check: 12 + 13 = 25 heads
● 24 + 52 = 76 feet.
Use a Table or Make a List
Example: You save Php 3 on Monday. Each day after that you save twice as much as you saved
the day before. If this pattern continues, how much would you save on Friday?
● You need to know that you save Php 3 on Monday.

● Then you need to know that you always save twice as much as you find the day before.

● You can make a table.
● List the amount of money you save each day.
● Remember to double the number each day.
You save Php 48 on Friday.

TRY!
Judy is taking pictures of Jim, Karen, and Mike. She asks them, "How
many different ways could you three children stand in a line?"
.
There are 6 ways that the children could stand in line
Logical Reasoning
Example: I have 3 in the ones place. I am greater than 20 but less than 29. What number am I?
What are the given or conditions?
● ones digit = 3
● 20 < 3 < 29

Use a logical reasoning.
Logical Reasoning
● Since I am greater than 20 and less than 29, my first digit must be 2.
● And since 3 is in my ones place, I must be 23.
● The ones place is 3 and greater than 20 but less than 29 therefore I am 23.
Logical Reasoning
TRY!
The farmer feeds all of his animals in the same schedule each afternoon. Use the clues below
to determine his daily order.
● The chickens were fed before the pigs, but after the cows.
● The goats were fed right after the cows.
● The horses were fed after the pigs.
The feeding daily order is c, g, ck, p, and h.

Look for a Pattern
Example: Carol has written a number pattern that begins with 1, 3, 6, 10, 15.
If she continues this pattern what are the next four numbers in her pattern?
What do you need to find?
● You need to find 4 numbers after 15.
● You can find a pattern. Look at the numbers.
● The new number depends upon the number before it.
Look for a Pattern
Look at the numbers in the pattern.
● 3 = 1 + 2 (starting number is 1, add 2 to make 3)
New numbers will be
● 15 + 6 = 21 21 + 7 = 28 28 + 8 = 36 36 + 9 = 45
Look for a Pattern
● The numbers are 21, 28, 36, and 45 by applying the pattern the starting number
added to the consecutive counting numbers.
Recreational Mathematics
Activity: Get a calculator and follow the instructions.
● Choose a counting number (write down the chosen number and key the
number on your calculator)
● Add 9 (then press = sign)
● Triple the result (then press = sign)
● Subtract 12 (then press = sign)
● Divide by 3 (then press = sign)
● Subtract the original number (then press = sign)
● What is the result?
● Try again, using another counting number. (Better if you can do this 3 times)
Tricks in Performing Series of Operation
The following are samples of Recreational Mathematics
• Archaeology Puzzle
• Guessing Game Difference
• Commutative Theme In Palindromes
• Card Game In Mathematics
• Sum Equals Product
Archaeology Puzzle
Guessing Game Difference
● Step 1: Think of any 3-digit number.
● Step 2: Reverse the number and subtract it from the given number.
● Step 3: Add the result to the number reverse in order.
If you try it again, the result is always 1089.

Commutative Theme in Palindromes
The theme of the commutative property - a change in order makes no

difference in an outcome - is found in palindromes. It makes no difference
whether a palindrome is read from left to right or from right to left. The outcome
is always the same. This is because a palindrome is a word, verse, phrase,
sentence, or number that reads the same forward or backward.
Commutative Theme in Palindromes
Examples are the following.
1. mom
2. 1234321
3. repaper
4. never odd or even
5. race car
Card Game in Mathematics
Sum Equals Product
Example:
● 2 x 2 = 4 (Product)
● 2 + 2 = 4 (Sum)
sum and product are the same

Sum Equals Product
Other examples
𝟑 𝟗 𝟑 𝟗
𝟑+ = 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝟑) =
𝟐 𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
𝟗 𝟖𝟏 𝟗 𝟖𝟏
𝟗+ = 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝟗) =
𝟖 𝟖 𝟖 𝟖
𝟓 𝟐𝟓 𝟓 𝟐𝟓
𝟓+ = 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝟓) =
𝟒 𝟒 𝟒 𝟒
Every problem has a
solution. You just have to
be creative enough to find
it.
—Travis Kalanick

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The Art of

Non routine problem

Verification Step Step Insight

Step 3. Carry out the plan

Step 1: Understand the problem.

What do you need to find?

Step 3: Carry out the plan (solve).

Step 4: Look back (check and interpret).

Step 1: Understand the problem.

Step 2: Devise a plan (translate).

Better! The total number of feet is increasing!

Step 4: Look back (check and interpret).

Step 1: Understand the problem.

● You need to know that you save Php 3 on Monday.

How can you solve the problem?

Step 4: Look back (check and interpret).

You save Php 48 on Friday.

Step 2: Devise a plan (translate).

Step 4: Look back (check and interpret).

The feeding daily order is c, g, ck, p, and h.

● Step 3: Add the result to the number reverse in order.

If you try it again, the result is always 1089.

The theme of the commutative property - a change in order makes no

Examples are the following.

sum and product are the same

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