The following are some problem solving strategies:

Problem Solving Strategy 1 (Guess and Test)

Make a guess and test to see if it satisfies the demands of the problem. If it doesn't, alter the guess
appropriately and check again. Keep doing this until you find a solution.

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?

Step 1: Understanding the problem

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.

Step 2: Devise a plan

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.

Step 3: Carry out the plan:

Chickens Cows Number of chicken feet Number of cow feet Total number of 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 are increasing!

15 10 30 40 70

12 13 24 52 76

Step 4: Looking back:

Check: 12 + 13 = 25 heads

24 + 52 = 76 feet.
We have found the solution to this problem. I could use this strategy when there are a limited
number of possible answers and when two items are the same but they have one characteristic that
is different.

1 2 45 cents Videos to watch:

1. Click on this link to see an example of “Guess and Test”

http://www.mathstories.com/strategies.htm

2. Click on this link to see another example of Guess and Test.

http://www.mathinaction.org/problem-solving-strategies.html

Problem Solving Strategy 2 (Draw a Picture). Some problems are obviously about a geometric
situation, and it is clear you want to draw a picture and mark down all of the given information
before you try to solve it. But even for a problem that is not geometric thinking visually can help!

Videos to watch demonstrating how to use "Draw a Picture".

1. Click on this link to see an example of “Draw a Picture”

http://www.mathstories.com/strategies.htm

2. Click on this link to see another example of Draw a Picture.

http://www.mathinaction.org/problem-solving-strategies.html

Problem Solving Strategy 3 (Using a variable to find the sum of a sequence.)

Gauss's strategy for sequences.

last term = fixed number (n-1) + first term

The fix number is the the amount each term is increasing or decreasing by. "n" is the number of
terms you have. You can use this formula to find the last term in the sequence or the number of
terms you have in a sequence.

Ex: 2, 5, 8, ... Find the 200th term.

Last term = 3(200-1) +2

Last term is 599.

To find the sum of a sequence: sum = [(first term + last term) (number of terms)]/ 2

Sum = (2 + 599) (200) then divide by 2

Sum = 60,100

Problem Solving Strategy 4 (Working Backwards)

This is considered a strategy in many schools. If you are given an answer, and the steps that were
taken to arrive at that answer, you should be able to determine the starting point.

Videos to watch demonstrating of “Working Backwards”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FFWTsMEeJw

Example:

Karen is thinking of a number. If you double it, and subtract 7, you obtain 11. What is Karen’s
number?

1. We start with 11 and work backwards.

2. The opposite of subtraction is addition. We will add 7 to 11. We 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.

Problem Solving Strategy 5 (Looking for a Pattern)

Definition: A sequence is a pattern involving an ordered arrangement of numbers.

We first need to find a pattern.

Ask yourself as you search for a pattern – are the numbers growing steadily larger? Steadily smaller?
How is each number related?

Example 1: 1, 4, 7, 10, 13…

Find the next 2 numbers. The pattern is each number is increasing by 3. The next two numbers
would be 16 and 19.

Example 2: 1, 4, 9, 16 … find the next 2 numbers. It looks like each successive number is increase by
the next odd number. 1 + 3 = 4.

4+5=9

9 + 7 = 16

So the next number would be

16 +9 = 25

25 + 11 = 36

Example 3: 10, 7, 4, 1, -2… find the next 2 numbers.

In this sequence, the numbers are decreasing by 3. So the next 2 numbers would be -2 -3 = -5

-5 – 3 = -8

Example 4: 1, 2, 4, 8 … find the next two numbers.

This example is a little bit harder. The numbers are increasing but not by a constant. Maybe a factor?

1x2=2
2x2=4

4 x 2 =8

So each number is being multiplied by 2.

8 x 2 = 16

16 x 2 = 32

Videos:

1. Click on this link to see an example of “Looking for a Pattern”

http://www.mathstories.com/strategies.htm

2. Click on this link to see another example of Looking for a Pattern.

http://www.mathinaction.org/problem-solving-strategies.html

Problem Solving Strategy 6 (Make a List)

Example 1: Can perfect squares end in a 2 or a 3?

List all the squares of the numbers 1 to 20.

1 4 9 16 25 36 49 64 81 100 121 144 169 196 225 256 289 324 361 400.

Now look at the number in the ones digits. Notice they are 0, 1, 4, 5, 6, or 9. Notice none of the
perfect squares end in 2, 3, 7, or 8. This list suggests that perfect squares cannot end in a 2, 3, 7 or 8.

Example 2:

How many different amounts of money can you have in your pocket if you have only three coins
including only dimes and quarters?

Quarter’s dimes

0 3 30 cents

2 1 60 cents

3 0 75 cents

Videos demonstrating "Make a List"

http://www.mathstories.com/strategies.htm

http://www.mathinaction.org/problem-solving-strategies.html

Problem Solving Strategy 7 (Solve a Simpler Problem)

Example:

Geometric Sequences:

How would we find the nth term?

Solve a simpler problem:

1. To get from 1 to 3 what did we do?

2. To get from 3 to 9 what did we do?

Let’s set up a table:

Term Number what did we do

111*3

2 3 1* 3

3 9 1* 3

4 27

Looking back: How would you find the nth term?

Nth term = 1 times

Find the 10th term of the above sequence.

Let L = the tenth term

L = 1 times = 19,683

Problem Solving Strategy 8 (Process of Elimination)

This strategy can be used when there is only one possible solution.

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