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Problem-Solving Strategies I

This document provides examples of different problem solving strategies including guess and check, working backwards, and drawing diagrams. It also includes practice problems demonstrating how to apply these strategies. Specifically, it discusses guessing systematically or by inference to solve logic problems, working backwards when the outcome is known, and drawing diagrams to visualize word problems. Sample problems cover topics like placing numbers in shapes, measuring water volumes, number tricks, climbing in a well, fencing, and bouncing tennis balls.

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Nurhajrina Jarawi
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97 views18 pages

Problem-Solving Strategies I

This document provides examples of different problem solving strategies including guess and check, working backwards, and drawing diagrams. It also includes practice problems demonstrating how to apply these strategies. Specifically, it discusses guessing systematically or by inference to solve logic problems, working backwards when the outcome is known, and drawing diagrams to visualize word problems. Sample problems cover topics like placing numbers in shapes, measuring water volumes, number tricks, climbing in a well, fencing, and bouncing tennis balls.

Uploaded by

Nurhajrina Jarawi
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Problem

Problem Solving
Solving
Strategies
Strategies II
Guess & Check
Draw a diagram
Working backwards
Problem 1
You are required to use
numerals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
7 and 8 only to be put
inside the 8 squares.
The condition is that
the neighboring
numbers must not be
put next to each other,
either above, below,
left, right or diagonally.
Problem 2
• How would you place these digits 1, 2, 3,
4, 5 and 6 in the circles as below such
that the sum at all the sides of the
triangle is 11 or 12.
3 ways of “Guess &
Check”
• Guess & check at random
• Systematic guess & check
• Guess & check by inference

Step 1 : understand the problem


Guess & check at random
Step 2 : Make a plan
• Take 6 pieces of paper
• Write the digits 1 to 6

Step 3 : Implement the plan


• Arrange the 6 pieces of paper in an
equilateral triangle
• Check if the total at all the sides
• Arrange until you get 12 at all the sides
Systematic guess & check
Step 2 : Make a plan
• Put the 3 smaller numbers at the vertices
Step 3 : Implement the plan
• Put 1, 2 & 3 at the vertices
• Total at all the sides are too small
• Try 1, 2 & 4 and so on
• Until you put 4, 5 & 6 at the vertices

Alternative:
Put 3 bigger numbers at the vertices
Guess & check by inference
Step 2 : Make a plan/conjecture
• A particular number must be at the top of the
triangle
• Investigate possibilities that arise
Step 3 : Implement the plan
• If 1 is put there, then we need 11 to form 12
on two of the sides
• Only one combination that gives 11, i.e. 5 & 6
• So 1 cannot be put there
• What if 2? 3? 4?
Step 4 : Looking back

• Is the solution correct?


• Is there easier way to get the
solution?
Problem 3
• Mary hits the dartboard shown below
with 4 darts. Each dart hits a
different number. Her total score
was 60. How might she have scored
60?

15 7 19

10 31 17

9 25 5
Guess & Check

• Guess & check by random is usually used as


a start in solving a problem
• But it requires too many trials and can be
confusing or misleading
• Guess & check systematically enables us to
expand a scheme to try all possibilities
• Guess & check by inference saves time &
gives more information about all the
possible solutions
Find the maximum product

x 8
Problem 4

Cylinder A can be used to contain exactly


9 liters of water. Cylinder B can be used
to contain exactly 4 liters of water.
By using cylinders A and B only, explain
how can you measure exactly 6 liters of
water?
Working Backwards
• A strategy that is used when the outcome
of a situation is known, and the initial
conditions are required
• When we work backwards, the operations
required by the original action will have to
be reversed
• Example: subtraction replaces addition,
division replaces multiplication, and vice
versa
Problem 5
• Jimmy was trying a number trick on
Sally. He told her to pick a number,
add 5 to it, multiply the sum by 3,
then subtract 10 and double the
result
• Sally’s final answer was 28
• What number did Sally start with?
Problem 6
• Freddy Frog is at the bottom of a
well 10m deep. Each hour he climbs
up 1m and then falls back 0.5m. How
long is it before Freddy is out of the
well?
Draw a diagram
• Paper and pencil simulation of the
action described in a problem
• Enable students to convert a verbal
situation into a visual representation
• Remove destructors, recognize facts,
understand relationships in the
problem
Problem 7
• If posts are spaced 10m apart, how
many posts are needed for 100m of
straight-line fence?
Problem 8
• Sylvia dropped a tennis ball from a balcony
16 feet above the side walk. Each time the
ball bounced, it travelled half as high on
the previous bounce. Sylvia’s brother
caught the ball when it bounced exactly 1
foot from the sidewalk. How many times
did the ball bounced?

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