Polya's 4-Steps in Problem Solving

Polya’s 4-Steps in
Problem Solving
any question or matter involving
doubt, uncertainty, or difficulty.
What is a a question proposed for solution or

discussion.
problem?
a statement requiring a solution,
usually by means of a mathematical
operation or geometric
construction.
• Problem solving is the act of
defining a problem; determining
the cause of the problem;
WHAT IS identifying, prioritizing, and
selecting alternatives for a
PROBLEM solution; and implementing a
SOLVING? solution.
George Polya(1887-1985)
❖ The Father of Problem Solving in Mathematics Education
Dr. Polya was a distinguished mathematician and professor
at Stanford University. Polya (1887-1985) made important
contributions to probability theory, number theory, the theory of
functions, and the calculus of variations. He was the author of the
classic works How to Solve It, Mathematics and Plausible Reasoning,
and Mathematical Discovery, which encouraged students to become
thoughtful and independent problem solvers. He was an honorary
member of the Hungarian Academy, the London Mathematical Society,
and the Swiss Mathematical Society, and a member of the (American)
National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and
Sciences, and the California Mathematics Council, as well as a
corresponding member of the Academie des Sciences in Paris.
Pólya’s How to Solve It
In 1945, Pólya published the short book
How to Solve It, which gave a four-step method
for solving mathematical problems:
1. First, you have to understand the problem.
2. After understanding, then make a plan.
3. Carry out the plan.
4. Look back on your work. How could it be
better?
Polya’s Four-Step Problem-Solving
Strategy
Understanding the problem involves interpreting what the
1. Understanding the Problem problem means, and what questions must be answered to
solve it.
To devise a plan means the student must choose a

2. Devising a Plan strategy that will help him or her solve the problem.
3. Carrying Out the Plan To carry out the plan means to solve the problem.
To look back is to examine the solution obtained from

4. Looking Back solving the problem using the chosen strategy.
Strategies for Problem Solving
CREATE A GUESS AND USE A TABLE OR LOGICAL FIND A PATTERN

DIAGRAM CHECK MAKE A LIST REASONING
WORKING
BACKWARDS
Make a guess and test to see
Problem if it satisfies the demands of the
problem. If it doesn't, alter the guess
Solving appropriately and check again. Keep

doing this until you find a solution.
Strategy 1 Example:
Mr. Jones has a total of 25
(Guess chicken and cows on his farm. How
many of each does he have if all
and Test) together there are 76 feet?

Step 1: Understanding the problem
Mr. Jones • We are given in the problem that there are 25
has a total of 25 chickens and cows.
chicken and • All together there are 76 feet.

• Chickens have 2 feet and cows have 4 feet.
cows on his
Step 2: Devise a plan
farm. How • Going to use Guess and test along with
many of each making a table.
does he have if • Many times the strategy below is used with

guess and test.
all together there • Make a table and look for a pattern:
are 76 feet?
Mr. Jones has
a total of 25
chicken and cows
on his farm. How
many of each does
he have if all
together there are
76 feet?
Mr. Jones
has a total of 25
chicken and
Step 4: Looking back:
cows on his
farm. How many Check: 12 + 13 = 25 heads
of each does he 24 + 52 = 76 feet.
have if all
together there
are 76 feet?
Making a list is a strategy that will help
students sort out the information that has been
given in the problem. Once the students can
see all of the possibilities for the solution, they
can then attempt to solve the problem more
Problem easily.
Example :
Solving
Strategy (Make Can perfect squares end in a 2 or a 3?
a List) List all the squares of the numbers 1 to 20.
1 4 9 16 25 36 49 64 81 100
121 144 169 196 225 256 289 324 361 4
00.
This strategy requires students to use
the information they have been given in the
question to eliminate possible solutions to finally
discover the correct solution.
Example:
I’m thinking of a number.
The number is odd.
Problem Solving It is more than 1 but less than 100.
Strategy (Logical It is greater than 20.
Reasoning) It is less than 5 times 7.
The sum of the digits is 7.
It is evenly divisible by 5.
Example:
I’m thinking of a number.
The number is odd.
It is more than 1 but less than 100.
It is greater than 20.
It is less than 5 times 7.
The sum of the digits is 7.
It is evenly divisible by 5.
a. We know it is an odd number between 1 and 100.
b. It is greater than 20 but less than 35
21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35. These are the possibilities.
c. The sum of the digits is 7
21 (2+1=3) No 23 (2+3 = 5) No 25 (2 + 5= 7) Yes
When students use this strategy
Problem they look for a pattern from the
information that has been given.
Solving Definition: A sequence is a pattern

involving an ordered arrangement of
numbers.
Strategy Example : 1, 4, 7, 10, 13…
5(Looking Find the next 2 numbers.

The pattern is each number is
for a increasing by 3. The next two numbers
would be 16 and 19.
Pattern)
Problem This is considered a strategy in many schools. If you are
given an answer, and the steps that were taken to arrive at that
Solving answer, you should be able to determine the starting point.

Example:
Strategy Karen is thinking of a number. If you double it, and

subtract 7, you obtain 11. What is Karen’s number?
(Working 1. We start with 11 and work backwards.

2. The opposite of subtraction is addition. We will add 7 to 11. We
Backwards) are now at 18.
3. The opposite of doubling something is dividing by 2. 18/2 = 9
4. This should be our answer. Looking back:
9 x 2 = 18 -7 = 11
5. We have the right answer.

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Polya’s 4-Steps in

What is a a question proposed for solution or

To devise a plan means the student must choose a

To look back is to examine the solution obtained from

CREATE A GUESS AND USE A TABLE OR LOGICAL FIND A PATTERN

Solving appropriately and check again. Keep

and Test) together there are 76 feet?

chicken and • All together there are 76 feet.

does he have if • Many times the strategy below is used with

Solving Definition: A sequence is a pattern

5(Looking Find the next 2 numbers.

Solving answer, you should be able to determine the starting point.

Strategy Karen is thinking of a number. If you double it, and

(Working 1. We start with 11 and work backwards.

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