Scribd
Upload
2K views4 pages

MMW Worksheet 3.3 - Problem Solving - Problem Solving Strategies

This document provides an overview of problem solving strategies and techniques. It discusses Polya's four steps for problem solving (understand the problem, devise a plan, carry out the plan, look back). Examples of problem types involving sequences, patterns, and recreational puzzles like Sudoku and KenKen are given. The key learning competencies are using reasoning to justify statements, writing proofs, and organizing approaches to problem solving and proving.

Uploaded by

Zoren Divina Borreta
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
2K views4 pages

MMW Worksheet 3.3 - Problem Solving - Problem Solving Strategies

This document provides an overview of problem solving strategies and techniques. It discusses Polya's four steps for problem solving (understand the problem, devise a plan, carry out the plan, look back). Examples of problem types involving sequences, patterns, and recreational puzzles like Sudoku and KenKen are given. The key learning competencies are using reasoning to justify statements, writing proofs, and organizing approaches to problem solving and proving.

Uploaded by

Zoren Divina Borreta
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

Republic of the Philippines Quarter 1: Week 13

Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences SELF LEARNING KIT #11


University of Northern Philippines
Lesson 3: Problem Solving and Reasoning
Learning Competencies
The learner will be able to:

● Use different types of reasoning to justify statements and


arguments made about mathematics and mathematical
concepts
● Write clear and logical proofs
● Solve problems involving problems and recreational
problems following Polya’s Four Steps
● Organize one’s methods and approaches to proving and
solving problems

LESSON 3: PROBLEM -SOLVING STRATEGIES

🙣 Ancient mathematicians who were interested in problem-solving are


Euclid, Rene Descartes, and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibnitz.

🙣 One of the foremost recent mathematicians to make a study of


problem solving was George Polya (1887–1985). He was born in
Hungary and moved to the United States
in 1940.

WORKSHEET 11 POLYA’S STEPS IN PROBLEM SOLVING


PROBLEM SOLVING
• Understand the Problem
• Devise a Plan
• Carry out the Plan
Name of Teacher: HELEN R. SIEMBRE, MAME
• Look Back
School: University of Northern Philippines-Laboratory Schools
🙣 Do you understand all the words used in stating the problem?

🙣 What are you asked to find or show?

🙣 Can you restate the problem in your own words?

🙣 Can you think of a picture or diagram that might help you understand
the problem?

🙣 Is there enough information to enable you to find a solution?

Find the connection between the data and the unknown. You may be
obliged to consider auxiliary problems if an immediate connection cannot be
found. You should obtain eventually a plan of the solution.
Polya mentions that there are many reasonable ways to solve
problems. The skill at choosing an appropriate strategy is best learned by
solving many problems. You will find choosing a strategy increasingly easy.

■ Work carefully.
A partial list of strategies is included: ■ Keep an accurate and neat record of all your attempts.
■ Realize that some of your initial plans will not work and that you may
🙣 Give problems involving sequence of numbers and worded problems
have to devise another plan or modify your existing plan.
involving numerical patterns
Ex. 1. Find the 10th term in the sequence
3, 7, 11, 15,…
2. Mark saves money from his allowance. Each day he saves 12 pesos
■ Ensure that the solution is consistent with the facts of the problem. more than the previous day. If he started saving 8 pesos in the first day, how
much will he set aside in the 5th day?
■ Interpret the solution in the context of the problem.
■ Ask yourself whether there are generalizations of the solution that
could apply to other problems.
Mathematical Problems Involving Patterns

🙣 Predict the next term in a sequence


Recreational Problems using Mathematics
🙣 nth-term Formula for a Sequence
🙣 Sudoku
🙣 Word Problems which involves numerical pattern
🙣 Magic Squares
TERMS OF A SEQUENCE
A magic square of order n is an arrangement of numbers in a square
An ordered list of numbers such as such that the sum of the n numbers in each row, column, and diagonal is the
5, 14, 27, 44, 65, ... same number..
is called a sequence. The numbers in a sequence that are separated by
commas are the terms of the sequence. In the above sequence, 5 is the first 🙣 KenKen Puzzles
term, 14 is the second term, 27 is the third term, 44 is the fourth term, and 65
KenKen is an arithmetic-based logic puzzle that was invented by the
is the fifth term. The three dots “...” indicate that the sequence continues
Japanese mathematics teacher Tetsuya Miyamoto in 2004. The noun “ken”
beyond 65, which is the last written term. It is customary to use the subscript
has “knowledge” and “awareness” as synonyms. Hence, KenKen translates
notation an to designate the nth term of a sequence. That is,
as knowledge squared, or awareness squared.
Exercise:
KenKen puzzles are similar to Sudoku puzzles, but they also require
you to perform arithmetic to solve the puzzle.
KenKen Puzzle

SOLUTION

REFERENCES:
MMW FACULTY
Chapter 3 Module (2020). Problem Solving- Department of Mathematics and
Natural Sciences. University of Northern Philippines Vigan City

You might also like