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Problem Solving

The document discusses problem solving as a mental process involving the discovery, analysis, and resolution of problems, highlighting common strategies and heuristics used in this process. It outlines Polya's four principles of problem solving and provides examples of mathematical reasoning, including inductive and deductive reasoning. Additionally, it presents sample problems that illustrate the application of these concepts.

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Azzelle Velasquez
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11 views18 pages

Problem Solving

The document discusses problem solving as a mental process involving the discovery, analysis, and resolution of problems, highlighting common strategies and heuristics used in this process. It outlines Polya's four principles of problem solving and provides examples of mathematical reasoning, including inductive and deductive reasoning. Additionally, it presents sample problems that illustrate the application of these concepts.

Uploaded by

Azzelle Velasquez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PROBLEM SOLVING AND

REASONING
Problem Solving refers to the mental process that people go
through to discover, analyze and solve problems.

It is also defines as an act to find a way out of difficulty,


find a way around an obstacle, find a way where none is
known, and attain a desired end that is not immediately
attainable by direct means.
(George Polya 1877-1985)
Problem solving involves all of the steps in the
problem process, including the discovery of the
problem, the decision to tackle the issue,
understanding the problem, researching the available
options and taking actions to achieve your goals
COMMON PROBLEM SOLVING STRATEGIES/HEURISTICS

Heuristics are procedures or strategies that do not


guarantee a solution to a problem but provide more highly
probable method for discovering the solution to a problem.

There are many reasonable ways to solve problems. The


skill at choosing an appropriate strategy is best learned by
solving many problems.
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
In a dancing competition all the contestants started
dancing together. After 3 minutes half of the people
were eliminated. During the next 10 minutes half of the
remaining were eliminated. At the 15 minute mark, half
again were eliminated, and at the 20 minute mark, half
of those still remaining were eliminated. In the last
two minutes one more contestant was eliminated
leaving a winner of the competition. How many
dancers were there in the beginning?
Maria went to her grandfather’s farm. Her
grandfather has chickens and goats. She
asked him how many chickens and how
many goats. He told that his animals had 26
heads and 68 legs and from that information
she could calculate the number of chickens
and goats. How would you solve the problem?
In the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” a person
receives a set of gifts each day for 12 days. On the first
day, she received one gift, a partridge in a pear tree.
On the second day she receives two turtle dove and
another partridge in a pear tree- a total of 3 gifts. On
the third day she receives a new gift three French
hens plus the gifts given on the second day, for a total
of six new gifts. This continues for 12 days. How many
gifts does she receive on the 12th day?
A frog fell down on an abandoned well which has 21
meters deep. The frog found it difficult to jump up
the mud coated walls. It started its long jump up the
well at 6 a.m. It took it 15 minutes to jump three
meters because the walls are slippery. At the end of
every 15 minute period it rested for five minutes
while it sadly slipped down one meter. It continued
at the same rate. What time did it finally reach the
top wall?
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy
In his book (Polya,1957)
identifies the four basic
principles of problem solving.
1. Understanding the problem
2. Devising a plan
3. Carrying out a plan
4. Looking back
EXAMPLE:
In three bowling games, Lea scored
138, 141, and 144. What score will she
need in a fourth game in order to have
an average score of 145 for all four
games?
STEP 1: UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM
Lea scored 138, 141 and 144 in three games. The
average score of the game is 145 What should be
the fourth score?

STEP 2: Devise a plan


We can easily solve this by algebra. Let x be the
required score.
STEP 3: CARRY OUT THE PLAN
Since the averahe score is 145, we have
138 + 141 + 144 + x = 145
4
138 + 141 + 144 + x = 4 (145)
423 + x = 580
x = 580 - 423
x = 157
STEP 4: LOOK BACK
Computing the average of 138, 141, 144 and
157 yields to 145. Thus we get the correct
answer.
MATHEMATICAL REASONING
Mathematical reasoning refers to the process
of thinking logically and systematically to solve
problems, prove statements, or make decisions
based on mathematical concepts. It involves
using principles, definitions, and previously
established results to draw conclusions and
justify answers.
Mathematical Reasoning
Inductive Deductive
Reasoning Reasoning
INDUCTIVE REASONING
Inductive reasoning is the process of reaching general conclusions by
examining specific examples.
Example:
1. ) 2, 8, 14, 20, 26, __
2. ) 1, 2, 5, 10, 17, 26, __
3. Every sports car I have ever seen is red. Thus, all sports cars are
red.
4. The coin I pulled from the bag is a 5-peso coin. Another 5-peso
coin is drawn from the bag. A third coin from the bag is again 5
peso-coin. Therefore, all the coins in the bag are 5 peso coin.
DEDUCTOVE REASONING
Deductive Reasoning is the process of reaching a conclusion by
applying general assumptions, procedures or principles.
Examples:
1. All men are handsome. John is a man. Therefore, John is
handsome.
2. Every Filipino speaks English. Bryan is a Filipino. Therefore,
Bryan speaks English.
3. Quadrilateral is a polygon with 4 sides. Squares have 4
sides. There we can conclude that square is a quadrilateral.

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