PROBLEM-SOLVING

AND REASONING
 Objectives
At the end of the chapter, the
student is expected to:
1. apply inductive and
deductive reasoning to
solve problems;
2. solve problems involving
patterns and recreational
problems following Polya’s
strategy;
3. organize one’s methods and
approaches for proving and
solving problems.
What is a Problem?
A problem is a situation that
confronts the learner, that
requires resolution, and for
which the path to the answer is
not immediately known.
O
B
S
T
A
C
L
E
What is Problem–
Solving?

• A problem is a question that

motivates a person to search for
an answer.
• Problem-solving is finding
solutions and not just answers to
problems.
• Problem Solving has been
defined as higher-order
cognitive process that requires
the modulation and control of
more routine or fundamental
skills. (Goldstein & Levin, 1987).
What is Reasoning? Reasoning is
associated
with acts of
thinking and
cognition
and involves
using one’s
intellect.
Types of Reasoning

1. Intuition –
reasoning by
guessing or
by common
sense.
 Types of Reasoning

2. Analogy – reasoning in which other similarities are

inferred from a particular similarity between two things.
Examples:
 Types of Reasoning

3. Inductive Reasoning - the type of reasoning

that forms a conclusion based on the
examination of specific examples

Specific
Conclusions
Examples

Inductive reasoning is the process of

reaching a general conclusion by examining
specific examples.
Example
Use inductive reasoning to make a conjecture
Consider the following procedures:
• Pick a number.
• Multiply the number by 8.
• Add 6 to the product.
• Divide the sum by 2, and subtract 3.
Suppose we pick 5 as our original number. Suppose we pick 6 as
Then the procedure would produce the our original number.
following results
Original Number: 5 Original Number: 6
Multiply by 8: 8 x 5 = 40 Multiply by 8: 8 x 6 = 48
Add 6: 40 + 6 = 46 Add 6: 48 + 6 = 54
Divide by 2: 46  2 = 23 Divide by 2: 54  2 = 27
Subtract 3: 23 - 3 = 20 Subtract 3: 27 - 3 = 24

We conclude that the given procedure produces a number that is four times
the original number.
Try This!
Use inductive reasoning to make a conjecture

Consider the following procedures:

• Pick a number.
• Multiply the number by 9.
• Add 15 to the product.
• Divide the sum by 3, and subtract 5.

We conclude that the given procedure produces a number three

times the original.
 Types of Reasoning

4. Deductive reasoning is reaching a conclusion

by applying general assumptions, procedures,
or principles.

Examples of Deductive Reasoning

• All numbers ending in 0 or 5 are divisible by 5. The
number 35 ends with a 5, so it must be divisible by 5.
• Acute angles are less than 90 degrees. This angle is 40
degrees, so it must be an acute angle.
• All birds have feathers. All robins are birds. Therefore,
robins have feathers.
Types of Reasoning
Use deductive reasoning to the following

Example:
Consider the following procedures:
• Pick a number. n
• Multiply the number by 10. 10n
• Add 8 to the product. 10n + 8
• Divide the sum by 2. 10𝑛 + 8
= 5𝑛 + 4
2
• Subtract 4. 5n + 4 – 4 = 5n
• We started with n and ended with 5n after following the
given procedure.
• This means that the given procedure produces a number that
is five times the original number.
 Understand the
Problem

Polya’s • What is being

asked?
Steps in • What are the given
information or
Problem- data?
Solving • Can you state the
problem in your
own words?
Polya’s Steps in
Problem-Solving
Devise a Plan

• What strategies can

be used to solve the
problem?
 Problem Solving Strategies

• Organize the information

given (list, table, chart)
• Draw a diagram
• Work backwards
• Look for a pattern
• Try to solve a similar but
simpler problem
• Write an equation, defining
the variable used
• Guess at a solution and then
check the result
 Polya’s Steps in
Problem-Solving
Carry Out the Plan

• Implement the strategy or

strategies until the problem is
solved or until a new course
of action is suggested.

• Give yourself time, get ideas

from others.

• Do not be afraid of starting

over.
 Polya’s Steps in
Problem-Solving
Look Back

• Check your work.

• Interpret results. Is your
answer reasonable?
• Is there an easier or more
effective way of getting the
answer?
• Can you solve other related of
more general problem?
Problem Solving with Patterns

A sequence is an ordered list of numbers. Each number in a sequence is

called a term of the sequence.
One solution to find the next term of the sequence is by using the
difference table – a table which shows the differences between
successive terms of the sequence.

Example : Use a difference table to predict the next term in the sequence.
5, 14, 27, 44, 65, …

Solution:
Step 1: Understand the problem
Given: 5, 14, 27, 44, 65, …
Required: The next number in the sequence.

Step 2: Devise a plan

Make a difference table
Problem Solving with Patterns

Step 3: Carry out the plan

a) First, find the difference between the two consecutive terms in the given
sequence.

b) Clearly, from the pattern above, X must also be 4.

c) Moreover, following the above table, Y must be 25.

Problem Solving with Patterns

d) Finally, the next number in the above sequence is 90.

Step 4: Look back.

Answer: 5, 14, 27, 44, 65, 90
Problem Solving with Patterns
Venn diagrams are the principal way of showing sets
diagrammatically. The method consists primarily of entering
the elements of a set into a circle or circles.
A Venn diagram that involves two sets (say, sets A and B) can
be illustrated as follows:

Moreover, 𝒙 is number of elements that belong to set A only.

𝒚 is the number of elements that belong to set B only.
𝒛 is the number of elements that belong to both sets A and B.
𝒘 is the number of elements that belong to none of the sets A or B.
The total number of elements is 𝒙 + 𝒚 + 𝒛 + 𝒘.
Problem Solving with Patterns
Example: In a group, some children like swimming while
others like skiing or both sports. Twenty-five children like
swimming and 21 children like skiing. Of these, 13 like both
swimming and skiing. How many children are there in the
group?
Solution:
Step 1: Understand the problem
Given: Twenty-five children like swimming and 21 children
like skiing.
Thirteen children like both swimming and skiing.

Required: Total number of children in the group.

Step 2: Devise a plan
Draw a Venn diagram
Problem Solving with Patterns
Step 3: Carry out the plan

swimming skiing Number of children like

25 21
swimming only:
C 13 C 25 – 13 = 12
12 8 Number of children like
skiing only:
21 – 13 = 8

Total number of children in a group: 12 + 13 + 8 = 33

Step 4: Look back.
Answer: There are 33 children in the group.
Problem Solving with Patterns
Example: At a tuition center, some teachers teach English
while others teach Mathematics or both subjects. Fifty-two
teachers teach English, and 38 teachers teach Mathematics.
Of these, 22 teachers teach both subjects. How many
teachers are there in the tuition center?
Solution:
Step 1: Understand the problem
Given: Fifty-two teachers teach English, and 38 teachers teach
Mathematics.
Twenty-two teachers teach both subjects.

Required: Total number of teachers in the tuition center.

Step 2: Devise a plan
Draw a Venn diagram
Problem Solving with Patterns
Step 3: Carry out the plan

English Math Number of teachers

52 38
teaching English only:
C 22 C 52 – 22 = 30
30 16 Number of teachers
teaching Math only:
38 – 22 = 16

Total number of teachers in a group: 30 + 22 + 16 = 68

Step 4: Look back.
Answer: There are 68 teachers in the tuition center.
Problem Solving with Patterns
Example: Every GOOP is a GORP. Half of all GORGS are
GORPS. Half of all GORPS are GOOPS. There are 40 GORGS
and 30 GOOPS. No GORG is a GOOP. How many GORPS are
neither GOOPS nor GORGS?
Solution:
Step 1: Understand the problem
Given: There are 40 GORGS and 30 GOOPS.
Every GOOP is a GORP.
Half of all GORGS are GORPS.
No GORG is a GOOP.
Required: The number of GORPS are neither GOOPS nor GORGS.

Step 2: Devise a plan

Draw a Venn diagram
Problem Solving with Patterns
Step 3: Carry out the plan
1. Every GOOP is a GORP. No GORG is a
GORGS GOOP.
GORPS 2. There are 40 GORGS
40
20 60 3. There are 30 GOOPS.
C 20
GOOPS 4. Half of all GORGS are GORPS.
30
5. Half of all GORPS are GOOPS.

Number of GORPS are neither GOOPS nor GORGS:

60 – 30 – 20 = 10

Step 4: Look back.

Answer: There are 10 GOPRS neither GOOPS nor GORGS.
Problem Solving with Patterns
A Logical Puzzle is a method of elimination, logic puzzles can
be solved using deductive reasoning and a table as guide to
the solutions.

Example: Each of the four neighbors, Kean, Maria, Farah, and

Ryan, has a different occupation (editor, banker, chef, or
dentist). From the following clues, determine the occupation
of each neighbor.
1. Maria gets home from work after the banker but
before the dentist.
2. Farah, who is the last to get home from work, is not
the editor.
3. The dentist and Farah leave for work at the same
time.
4. The banker lives next door to Ryan.
Problem Solving with Patterns

Solution:
Step 1: Understand the problem
Given:
a. Each of the four neighbors, Kean, Maria, Farah, and Ryan, has a different
occupation (editor, banker, chef, or dentist).
b. Maria gets home from work after the banker but before the dentist.
c. Farah, who is the last to get home from work, is not the editor.
d. The dentist and Farah leave for work at the same time.
e. The banker lives next door to Ryan.

Required: The occupation of each neighbor.

Step 2: Devise a plan

Draw a table
Problem Solving with Patterns
1. Maria
1. Maria gets
gets home
home from
from work
work after
after
the ✓ From clue 1: Maria is not the
the banker
banker but
but before
before the
the dentist.
dentist.
banker or the dentist.
2. Farah,
2. Farah, who
who isis the
the last
last to
to get
get home
home
from work,
from work,
from is
work, is not
is not the
not the editor.
the editor.
editor. ✓ From clue 2, Farah is not the
3. The editor.
3. The dentist
dentist and
and Farah
Farah leave
leave for
for
work at
at the
the same
same time.
time. ✓ We know from clue 1 that the
work
banker is not the last to get home,
4. The banker lives next door to and we know from clue 2 that
Ryan..
Ryan Farah is the last to get home;
therefore, Farah is not thebanker.
Editor Banker Chef Dentist ✓ From clue 3, Farah is not the
dentist.
Kean  ✓   ✓ As a result, Farah is the Chef.

Maria ✓    ✓ Maria is the Editor.

✓ From clue 4, Ryan is not the banker.
Farah   ✓  ✓ Ryan is the Dentist.
Ryan    ✓ ✓ Kean is the Banker.
Problem Solving Using Formula
Example: At a party, Eric and seven
of his friends shake hands. How
many handshakes are exchanged?
Solution:
Step 1: Understand the problem
Given: Eight persons will shake hands with each other.

Required: The number of exchanged handshakes.

Step 2: Devise a plan
𝑛 𝑛 𝑛−1
Use the formula =
2 2
Step 3: Carry out the plan
The combination of 8 persons taken 2 persons at a time.
𝑛 8 8 8−1 8 7 56
Solution: = = = = = 28
2 2 2 2 2

Step 4: Look back.

Answer: They are exchanged 28 handshakes.
Problem Solving Using Equations
Example: On a balance scale, two spools and one thimble balance
eight buttons. Also, one spool balances one thimble and one button.
How many buttons will balance one spool?

Solution:
Step 1: Understand the problem
Given: Two spools and one thimble balance eight buttons.
One spool balances one thimble and one button.

Required: The number of buttons will balance one spool.

Step 2: Devise a plan

Formulate equations:
Let: S - spool,
T - thimble,
B - buttons
Problem Solving Using Equations
Step 3: Carry out the plan
Two spools and one thimble One spool balances one How many buttons will
balance eight buttons. thimble and one button. balance one spool?

Equation 1: Equation 2 1S = how many B?

2S + 1T = 8B 1S = 1T + 1B
Substitute 1T + 1B of equation 2 to S of equation 1 Using equation 2,
2(1T + 1B) +1T = 8B substitute 2B to T:
2T + 2B +1T = 8B 1S = 1T + 1B
1S = 2B + 1B, therefore
3T = 6B
1S = 3B
1T = 2B
Step 4: Look back.
Answer: The 3 buttons will balance one spool.
Problem Solving using the Cryptarithm
Replace each of the letters with a unique digit,
such that the addition works.

The following alphameric puzzle has 21

solutions.
G=4 H=6 I=5 N=3 O=7 R=2 T=8 W=1
G=4 H=6 I=1 N=3 O=7 R=5 T=8 W=2
Solution to Problem 3: Cryptarithm
Solution to Problem 3: Cryptarithm
Solution to Problem 3: Cryptarithm
Solution to Problem 3: Cryptarithm
Solution to Problem 3: Cryptarithm