Module 2: Problem-Solving and

Reasoning

Lesson 2.1:
Problem-Solving
Strategies and
Heuristics
Tiara May R. Canayon,
LPT
Mathematics Instructor
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1. Define what a problem is;
Enumerate and discuss the families of
2. the problem;
Discusss the different problem-solving
3. strategies; and
Apply the different problem-solving
4. strategies and heuristics in problem-
solving
WHAT IS A PROBLEM?
 Robert 01
Stenberg
Stenberg, a Psychologist,
defines a problem as a
situation where there is a
goal but the path to that
goal is not immediately
clear.
 Ralph P. 02
Boas
Boas, an American
Mathematician,
described a Mathematical
problem as a
situation that demands creative
thinking
and the application of
 George 03
Polya
Polya, a Hungarian
Mathematician,( in his book
‘How to solve it?’ defines a
Mathematical problem as a
question or situation that
requires finding an unknown
result through logical
 FAMILIES OF PROBLEM

Recreational Contest Open-Ended

Problems Problems Problems
 Recreational Problems
This is also Known as the brain teasers; these
problems usually complex to little formal
mathematics but, instead, rely on the creative use
of basic strategic principles
Example:
• What has a head and a tail, but no body?
Answer: A
Coin
• What has an eye but cannot see?
Answer: A
Needle
 Contest Problems
They are usually encountered during formal
exams with limits.

Examples:
• Quiz bee, term exams, and quizzes.
Open-Ended Problems
These are mathematical situations that are
sometimes vaguely worded and possibly
have many solutions.
Example:
• Arrange all 12 numbers from 1-12 in the box below
without being close to the number that follow or
precede them.
COMMON TYPES OF PROBLEMS
1. Arrangement Problems. These
problems require recognition and
transformation to solve.

Jig-saw
COMMON TYPES OF PROBLEMS
2. Transformation Problems. These
problems require trial and error and
sequential step to solve.

Maze Tower of Hanoi

 COMMON TYPES OF PROBLEMS
3. Structured Problems. These problems
are with words, symbols, e.g., series
problems in math, require
sequence/transformation.
Example:
2x+3 = 5, find the value of x
 COMMON TYPES OF PROBLEMS
4. Insight Problems. These problems are
seemed impossible to figure out, but then an
alternative suddenly arise, and the problem
is solved.
Example:
• The product of two whole numbers is 96, and their
sum is less than 30. What are the possibilities for
the two numbers?
Answer: 4 and
24
6 and
16
Problem-Solving Strategies and
Heuristics
FINDING A PATTERN. It is a strategy in
which students look for patterns in the data
to solve the problem.
Example: Try to find the next pattern in each problem.
1. What is the next pattern?
__
2. What is the next Number? 1, 4, 9, 16, 25,
__
Problem-Solving Strategies and
Heuristics
LOGICAL REASONING. Also known as “if
and then” approach, a conditional statement
in solving problems, using rational,
systematic series of steps based on sound
mathematical procedures and given
statements to conclude.
Problem-Solving Strategies and
Heuristics
Example: Try to answer the following logical
problem.

Dan is Joshua’s son and Guy’s brother. Margaret is

Guy’s mother and Judy’s daughter. Which of the
following statement below is correct.
• Judy is Dan’s mother-in-law
• Margaret is Dan’s mother
• Judy is Joshua’s grandmother
• None of the above
Problem-Solving Strategies and
Heuristics
GUESS AND CHECK. It is a problem-solving
approach that students can use to resolve
mathematical problems by predicting the
answer and then inspecting that the guess
fits the conditions of the problem.
Problem-Solving Strategies and
Heuristics
Example:

Florence and Cris sold 12 show tickets

altogether. Florence sold two more tickets
than Cris. How many tickets did each girl
sell?
Problem-Solving Strategies and
Heuristics
Solution:
What you need to find?
• You need to know that 12 tickets were sold in all. You
also need to know that Florence sold two more tickets
than Cris.
How can you solve the problem?
• You can guess and check to find two numbers with a
sum of 12 and a difference of 2. If your guess does
not work, try two different numbers.
Problem-Solving Strategies and
Heuristics
First Guess:
Florence = 8 tickets
Cris = 4 tickets
Check:
8+4=12
8-4= 4 (Florence sold 4 more tickets).
This numbers do not work.
Problem-Solving Strategies and
Heuristics
Second Guess:
Florence = 7 tickets
Cris = 5 tickets
Check:
7+5=12
7-5=2 (Florence sold 2 more tickets).
This numbers do work.
Problem-Solving Strategies and
Heuristics
DIVIDE AND CONQUER. It is dividing the
significant concentrations into small ones
and then rules them.
Example:
The furniture in a classroom consists of tables and
chairs. The teacher is making a seating plan. If two
students sit at each table, eight students will be left
without a place. If three students sit at each table,
four tables will be left empty. How many students are
there in the room?
Problem-Solving Strategies and
Solution: Heuristics
• Choose a variable: Let x be the number of
tables .
• Write an expression for the number of
students when they sit in 2s : 2x + 8
• Write an expression for the number of
students when they sit in 3s : 3 (x-4)
• Write an equation: Expressions in (b) and
(c) both gives the number of students.
Problem-Solving Strategies and
Thus, Heuristics
Solve for the equation:
3 (x-4) = 2x + 38 (x-4) = 2x + 8
3x – 12 = 2x + 8
3x – 2x = 8 + 12
x = 20 (number of tables)
Find the number of students:
2x + 8 = 2(20)+ 8 = 48 students
3 (x-4) = 3 (20-4) = 48 students
Problem-Solving Strategies and
Heuristics
WORKING BACKWARDS. This strategy
entails starting with the results and reversing
the steps needed to get those results, to
figure out the answer to the problem.
Example:
• James walked from Tanauan to VSU-Tolosa. It took 1
hour and 25 minutes to walk from Tanauan to
Tolosa Proper. Then it took 25 minutes to walk from
Proper to VSU. He arrived in VSU at 2:45 PM. At
what time did he leave Tanauan?
Problem-Solving Strategies and
Heuristics
Solution:
What you need to find?
• You need to find the specific time when James had left
from Tanauan.
How can you solve the problem?
• You can work backward from the time James reached
VSU. Subtract the time it took to walk from Tolosa
Proper to VSU. Then subtract the time it took to walk
from Tanauan to Tolosa Proper.
Problem-Solving Strategies and
Heuristics
1. Start from 2:45. This is the time James reached
VSU.
2. Subtract 25 minutes. This is the time it took to
get from Tolosa Proper to VSU.
3. The Time is 2:20 PM
4. Subtract 1 hour and 25 minutes. This is the time it
took from Tanauan to Tolosa Proper.
Answer:
 James left Tanauan at 12:55PM
Problem-Solving Strategies and
ORGANIZING
Heuristics
DATA. Constructing an
organized list, table, chart, or graph helps
students establish their intelligence about a
problem.
Problem-Solving Strategies and
Heuristics
Example:
• Tomorrow is the first day of school, an joy
is choosing her outfit to wear. She has
black and green slacks, 3 Blouses (red,
flower, plaid), and two sweaters (Beige and
Cream) How many different outfits can she
make consisting of one pair of slacks, one
blouse, and one sweater
Problem-Solving Strategies and
BRB GRB
Heuristics
BRC GRC
BFB GFB TOTAL : 12
BFC GFC
BPB GPB
BPC GPC
Problem-Solving Strategies and
Heuristics
AC IT OUT. Students solve the problem by
acting and Making themselves the character
in the problem.
Pólya defined “Problem-solving" as
Find the act
a way outto:
of
difficulty.
Find a way around an
obstacle.
Find a way where none is
known.
Attain a desired end that is not
immediately attainable by direct
means.
 Pólya's Four-Step Problem
Solving Strategy:
 Restate the problem in your own
Step 1. Understand the
words. Problem:
 Determine what is known about the
problem.
 Identify missing information that
would help solve it.
 Disregard extraneous information.
 Clarify the goal.
 Pólya's Four-Step Problem
Solving Strategy:

Step 2. Devise
a Plan
 Make a list of the known information.
 Make a list of the information that is needed.
 Draw a diagram.
 Make an organized list that shows all possibilities.
 Make a table or a chart.
 Work backwards.
 Look for a pattern.
 Perform an experiment.
 Guess at a solution and then check your result.
 Pólya's Four-Step Problem
Solving Strategy:
 Once a plan is devised, you must carry it out.
Step3. Carry Out
Work carefully.
the Plan
 Keep an accurate and neat record of all your
attempts.
 Realize that some initial plans may not work,
so you might need to revise the plan or
create a new one.
 Pólya's Four-Step Problem
Solving Strategy:
 After finding a solution, check the
Step 4. Review the
solution.
Solution
 Ensure that the solution is consistent
with the facts of the problem.
 Interpret the solution in the context of
the problem.
 Ask yourself whether there are
generalizations of the solution that could
apply to other problems.
Example 1:

During a family gathering, Angel collected

12 monetary bills consisting of P20 and
P50 bills from relatives. She received a
total of P390. How many of each bill did
Angel receive?
Using Pólya's Four-Step Problem Solving
Strategy we have:

1. Understand the Problem

o Distribute 12 bills into two portions.

2. Devise a Plan
o Perform Guess and Check. There are only ways of splitting 12 into
two portions.
11+1, 10+2, and so on.
If there are 11 P20 bills, then there must be 1 P50 bill, in which case the
total amount is 11(20) + 1(50)= 270 pesos. Reversing the amounts, you
have 11(50) + 1(20)= 570 pesos. Determine which distribution of bills
yields the amount P390.
3. Carry Out the Plan

Number of P20 bills Number of P50 bills Total Amount

11 1 11 (20) + 1 (50) = 270

10 2 10 (20) + 2 (50) = 300
9 3 9 (20) + 3 (50) = 330
8 4 8 (20) + 4 (50) = 360
7 5 7 (20) + 5 (50) = 390

The answer is Seven P20 bills and Five P50 bills.

Step 4. Review the Solution

Number of P20 bills Number of P50 bills Total Amount

11 1 11 (20) + 1 (50) = 270

10 2 10 (20) + 2 (50) = 300
9 3 9 (20) + 3 (50) = 330
8 4 8 (20) + 4 (50) = 360
7 5 7 (20) + 5 (50) = 390
6 6 6 (20) + 6 (50) = 420
5 7 5 (20) + 7 (50) = 450
4 8 4 (20) + 8 (50) = 480
3 9 3 (20) + 9 (50) = 510
2 10 2 (20) + 10 (50)= 540
1 11 1 (20) + 11 (50)= 570
THANK YOU!