Chapter III – Problem Solving and Reasoning

Problem Solving

The purpose of problem solving is to train the mind to

respond properly to challenging events

Challenging events may come in the form of calamities,

accidents, loss of someone important to your life,
life-and-death situations, etc.
Problem solving has always been part of everyone’s life every day. From
making choices on what food to eat or what clothes to wear, the easiest way to
get to school or to the workplace to the fastest way to finish a task. In dealing
with it scheming is necessary. And once solved, it brings joy to the one who did
the scheming.

Mathematical problems can be treated similarly as an ordinary real-life problem.

The only difference is that in depth analysis with a well-defined procedure is
involved. This is the purpose of this chapter. It features varying types of
mathematical problems and the different ways of solving them.
 Tools in solving a problem

1. Rules of logic

Example:

A felt bad when B talks to a lady.

Conclusion: A is in love with B
 Tools in solving a problem

2. Rules in Mathematics

You are in Negros Oriental and you need to go

to Cebu for some emergency. You have only
P100 pesos, what mode of transportation
would you take: Airplane, Boat, or Land
transportation
 Tools in solving a problem

3. Rules in Statistics

A certain city has a population of 100,000. The

city has 5 barangays and Pedro has garnered an
average of 5,000 votes per barangay. His lone
opponent has garnered an average of 20,000
votes per barangay. Therefore, Pedro cannot be
declared winner.
Mathematical Problems train the
mind how to relate quantities
together so that the conditions of the
problem will be satisfied.
 Example. A parcel of land with an area of 12,000 square
meters needs to be divided by 3 people, A, B, and C. Three
thousand square meters was already awarded to A. The donor
said that B should have twice as C. How many square meters
should B have?

The condition in the problem that needs to be satisfied is that the sum
of the shares of A, B, and C should be 12,000 square meters.
The condition in the problem that needs to be satisfied is that
the sum of the shares of A, B, and C should be 12,000 square
meters.

Solution.

A has already 3,000. Therefore B + C = 9,000.

B should have twice as much as C. Hence, if x square

meters goes to C, B will have 2x.

Thus, x + 2x = 9000. It follows that 3x = 9000 and x is

equal to 3000. Consequently, B will get 6000.
 Common Mathematical Problems
 1. Sequence problems
1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, what’s next?

 2. Geometric problems

1 dot, 1 region 2 dots, 2 regions 3 dots, 4 regions

4 dots, 8 regions 5 dots, ___?____ regions?

 Common Mathematical Problems
• 3. Recreational Problems
 • 3. Recreational Problems

The Tower of Hanoi with 8 Disks

• The objective of the puzzle is to move the entire stack to
another rod, obeying the following simple rules:

1. Only one disk can be moved at a time.

2. Each move consists of taking the upper disk from one of

the stacks and placing it on top of another stack.

3. No disk may be placed on top of a smaller disk

Click this
(The Tower of Hanoi.mp4)
 Common Mathematical Problems
• 4. True-to-life Problems.
John can finish the task in 2 hours,
while Jane can finish it in 3 hours.

How long will it take for both of them if they work

together to finish the task?
Polya’s technique in Solving a word problem

 According to Polya, Problem-solving is:

 1. Understanding,
 2. Planning,
 3. Carrying out the plan,
 4. Look back (review)
 • For example.
John can finish the task in 2 hours, while Jane can finish it in 3 hours.
How long will it take for both of them if they work together to finish
the task?

Understanding the problem. The problem is

about work that involves time. Certainly if they
work together, the task will be finished in less
than two hours.

Devise a Plan. Since the problem involves time and the

question is on the length of time to finish the task if they
work together, then let us start the analysis with the
question: what happens in the first hour? Then, we ask
what happens in x hours.
Carry out the plan. In 1 hour, John can finish ½
of the task while Jane 1/3. Hence in x hours,
John can finish x/2 of the task while Jane x/3.
Therefore, x/2 + x/3 = 1.
Solving for x, x = 1.2 hours or 1 hour and 12
minutes.

Review.
 Inductive Reasoning
 Inductive reasoning is a form of reasoning
where conclusions are based on observations
or experimentations.
 For example, when someone sees a foreigner
with blue eyes and concludes that all
foreigners have blue eyes, then this
conclusion is based on inductive reasoning.
 Concepts Involve in Solving Mathematical Problems by
Inductive Reasoning

1. Conjecture is an educated guess based upon repeated observations of a particular process or pattern.

2. Induction is characterized by drawing a general conclusion from repeated observations of specific examples. the conjecture may or may not be true.

3. Sequence is a list of numbers or objects in a special order.

4. The nth term of a sequence is a representation of the sequence in the form of an mathematical expression using literal numbers.

5. Finite differences in finding the degree of the polynomial:

a. Write down the original sequence.
b. Get the first layer difference. This is done by finding the difference between the two consecutive terms in the original sequence. If a common
difference occurs in this layer, then the sequence is represented by a linear form 𝑎𝑥+𝑏.
c. If the differences in the first layer difference are distinct, then obtain the second layer difference. This is obtained by taking the difference between the
two consecutive terms in the first layer difference. If a common difference is obtained in this second layer, then the sequence is represented by a
quadratic form 𝑎𝑥2+𝑏𝑥+𝑐.
d. Again, if the differences in the second layer difference are distinct, then obtain the third layer difference. This is obtained by taking the difference
between the two consecutive terms in the second layer difference. If a common difference is obtained in this third layer, then the sequence is
represented by a cubic form 𝑎𝑥3+𝑏𝑥2+𝑐𝑥+𝑑.
e. Note that the process goes on until the common difference is obtained and the degree of the polynomial representing the original sequence is
determined by the degree of the layer having common difference.

6. Counterexample is a case for which a statement is not true.

 Inductive Reasoning
 Example
 When I went to Hong Kong last summer, I met
Emy, an old friend. She is there as a domestic
helper. Upon leaving for the Philippines, my
seatmate in the plane was also a Filipina working
as domestic helper in Hong Kong. She is on leave
for one month. Therefore, all Filipinas working in
Hong Kong are domestic helpers.
 Deductive Reasoning

 Deductive reasoning is form of reasoning

from general assumptions to specific
instances of the general cases.

Example.
All living humans die
Felipe is a living human
Therefore, Felipe will die
Concepts Involve in Solving Mathematical Problems by
Deductive Reasoning

1. Logic puzzle is a format in which the set-up to a scenario is given, as well as the object,
certain clues are given, and then the reader fills out a matrix with the clues and attempts to
deduce the solution. This is also called a logic grid puzzle.

2. Common number sequence:

a. Arithmetic sequence is a list of numbers with common difference.
b. Geometric sequence is a list of numbers with common ratio.
c. Triangular number sequence is generated from a pattern of dots that form a triangle.
d. Square numbers are the results of multiplying an integer by itself.
e. Cube numbers are the results of multiplying an integer by itself three times,
f. Fibonacci sequence is a list of numbers whose next term is obtained by summing up the
two preceding terms in the sequence.
Basis for Deductive Reasoning Inductive Reasoning
comparison

Definition Deductive reasoning is the form of valid Inductive reasoning arrives at a conclusion
reasoning, to deduce new information by the process of generalization using
or conclusion from known related facts specific facts or data.
and information.

Approach Deductive reasoning follows a top-down Inductive reasoning follows a bottom-up

approach. approach.

Starts Deductive reasoning starts from Inductive reasoning starts from the
from Premises. Conclusion.

Validity In deductive reasoning conclusion must In inductive reasoning, the truth of premises
be true if the premises are true. does not guarantee the truth of conclusions.

Usage Use of deductive reasoning is difficult, Use of inductive reasoning is fast and easy,
as we need facts which must be true. as we need evidence instead of true facts.
We often use it in our daily life.

Process Theory→ hypothesis→ Observations-

patterns→confirmation. →patterns→hypothesis→Theory.

Argument In deductive reasoning, arguments may In inductive reasoning, arguments may be

be valid or invalid. weak or strong.

Structure Deductive reasoning reaches from Inductive reasoning reaches from specific
general facts to specific facts. facts to general facts.
Mathematical problems stimulate the mind and train your
mental faculties to be active when problems arose.

They condition the mind to identify what resources you have at

present to help you solve the problem at hand and lets you
recognize whether the problem is solvable or not.

Knowing that the problem is not solvable with what you have
at present is already time-saving for it prevents you from
waging a useless war.

According to Watson (2017), solving mathematical

problems improves the mind.

Click this 
To be submitted next meeting

Online Group Activity

Answer:
1. Ken ken puzzle and Magic Square (Exercise 3.3)
2. Cryptarithm (Exercise 3.2)

Please choose a group leader. They will be the one in

charge in submitting the activity. I will be creating a google
drive for your submission.

You can use any format file (pdf, word, video presentation,
ppt presentation or any other format)