BULACAN STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE

MMW 101
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

Module 9
Problem Solving
“Problems, problems go away
Mathematics is on the way”
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Problem Solving

Objectives of the Module

At the end of the module, you should be able to:
1. identify and apply Polya's 4-step process for problem-solving, and
2. apply the appropriate strategy/ies in solving problems.

Who is George Polya?

Before going further, let me introduce

Polya to you. The picture on the right is
George Polya, born in Hungary in 1887. He
finished his Doctor of Philosophy degree at
the University of Budapest. He taught in
Switzerland and was also a professor at
Stanford University in the United States.

He wrote more than 250 mathematical Photo grabbed from https://www.e-alyss.com/blog/wp-

papers and three books, the most famous of content/uploads/2016/01/GEORGE-POLYA-The-Father-of-problem-
Solving-Alyss.jpg

which is the book “How to Solve It”. This book

has been translated into 15 languages and it is in this book where he introduced his
four-step process for solving problems. Because of these, he was known as the Father
of Modern Problem Solving. Polya died in 1985 at the age of 98.

Polya's Four-step Process for Solving Problems

STEPS Follow these guides.
1. Understand the problem Read the problem and understand all the words in it.
You may try to restate the problem in your own words.
Identify the given information and the unknown in the
problem. Know if the information given is enough to
solve the problem and if there are extraneous
information. Tell if the problem at hand is similar to
problems you have solved before.
2. Make a plan Find the connection between the given and the
unknown in the problem. Choose the appropriate
strategy/ies to solve the problem.
3. Carry out the plan Use the strategy/ies that you have chosen to solve the
problem. If one strategy did not work, you may choose
a different strategy. Take time in solving the problem.
If the correct answer was not obtained in the first trial,
keep trying until you succeed in getting the right
answer.
4. Look back Check if your answer is correct. Can you see a better
solution? Are there other ways that you could have
used to get the answer?
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Below is an example to show you how Polya's 4-steps in solving problems is

applied.

The length of a rectangular lot is eight meters longer than its width. Its perimeter is
64 meters. Find the dimensions of the lot.
Step 1. Understand the problem.
Let 𝑤 = width
𝑙 = length; 𝑙 = 𝑤 + 8
𝑃 = 64 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠
Step 2. Devise a plan. (Translate into a workable equation.)
𝑃 = 2𝑙 + 2𝑤 𝑜𝑟 𝑃 = 2(𝑙 + 𝑤)
64 = 2[(𝑤 + 8) + 𝑤]
Step 3. Carry out the plan. (Solve.)
64 = 2(2𝑤 + 8)
64 = 4𝑤 + 16
−4𝑤 = 16 − 64
−4𝑤 = −48
−4𝑤 −48
=
−4 −4

𝒘 = 𝟏𝟐 meters
Solve for length.
𝑙 =𝑤+8
𝑙 = 12 + 8
𝒍 = 𝟐𝟎 meters
Step 4. Look back. (Check.)
64 = 2(2𝑤 + 8)
64 = 2[2(12) + 8]
64 = 2(24 + 8)
64 = 2(32)
64 = 64
A problem-solving strategy is a plan of action that is used to find a solution.
Different strategies call for different action plans.
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Polya would like us to choose the strategies in his second step, which is to be
applied in his third step. There are many common problem-solving strategies that you
can use in finding solutions to problems that are tackled in this lesson.
Problem Solving Strategies

1. Draw a Picture/Diagram
The strategy draw a picture or draw a diagram is used when we can make a
visual representation of the problem. This can also be used when the problem involves
geometric figures. Drawing a picture will help us have a better understanding of the
problem.

Example:

Mark was asked to place 13 chairs along the four walls of a room. Each of the four
walls must have the same number of chairs. How will he arrange the chairs?

Step 1. Understand the Problem

Mark has to place the chairs along the four walls of the room, but he also has
to see to it that there must be equal number of chairs along each of the walls.

Step 2. Devise a Plan

To solve this problem, draw a rectangle to represent the room.

Step 3. Carry out the Plan

We can visualize how the chairs can be arranged in a room so we can mark the
sides of the rectangle where the chairs will be placed. If after marking the positions of
the 13 chairs you found out that the number of chairs on each wall of the room are not
equal, then make another trial. Continue drawing until equal number of chairs are
placed on each wall. In this problem, the strategy guess and test is also applied as we
try to show the positions of the chairs.
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Step 4. Look Back

In the figure drawn, there are 13 chairs with four chairs along each wall.

2. Guess and Check or Guess and Test

When you use this strategy, you will make a reasonable guess based on the
given information and then check to see if your guess is correct. The guesses should
get closer and closer to the answer until you find the right answer. The guesses made
should be written down to see if there are patterns that might lead to the correct
answer. This will also keep you from repeating guesses.

Example
Julius, a helper in a store, is paid Php320.00 per day. After working for six days, he
received Php2,112.00 from the store owner. This is higher than what he usually
receives. He thought that the store owner might have given him a raise. How much
increase in his salary per day did the store owner give him?
Step 1. Understand the Problem
We need to find how much increase in daily pay was given by the store owner
to Julius.
Step 2. Devise a Plan
We may think of possible amounts of increase in his daily pay and compute
how much his take home pay will be.
Step 3. Carry out the Plan
If there was a Php10 increase per day:
6(320+10) = Php1980.00 (too low)
If there was a Php20 increase per day:
6(320+20) = Php2,040.00 (still low)
If there was a Php30 increase per day:
6(320+30) = Php2,100.00 (close to Php2,112.00)
If there was a Php35 increase per day:
6(320+35) = Php2,130.00 (exceeded Php2,112.00)
The value that we are looking for must be between 30 and 35.
If there was a Php32 increase per day:
6(320+32) = Php2,112.00
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Step 4. Look Back

If Julius received an increase of Php32.00 per day, his daily pay will be
Php352.00. Multiplying this amount by six days, his salary for the week is
Php2,112.00.

3. Use a table or make a list

Using a table or making a list is a good way to sort out and organize the
information given in the question. The information that has been set out in the table
will hopefully lead you to the correct solution. Once you can see all the possibilities for
the solution, you can then attempt to solve the problem more quickly.

If the problem asks the number of ways in which something can be done, this
strategy is most appropriate. In some problems, the strategy make a list goes with the
strategy guess and test where correct guesses are included in the list of answers.

Example

Mr. Robles forgot his ATM PIN, but he knows that he uses the digits 2,6,7, and 9. What
are the possible combinations of these four digits?

Step 1. Understand the Problem

The ATM PIN of Mr. Robles is a combination of the digits 2, 6, 7, and 9.

Step 2. Devise a Plan

We need to make an organized list of all possible 4-digit combinations of the

digits 2, 6, 7, and 9. This can be done by listing all the combinations when 2 is the first
digit. This can be followed by having 6 as the next first digit and afterwards, 7 as the
next first digit. Lastly, 9 becomes the first digit. This will eliminate repetition of
combinations as well missing out possible answers.

Step 3. Carry out the Plan

2679 6279 7269 9267

2697 6297 7296 9276
2769 6729 7629 9627
2796 6792 7692 9672
2967 6927 7926 9726
2976 6972 7962 9762
Step 4. Look Back

The organized list shows all the possibilities with no repetitions. We are
confident that the ATM PIN of Mr. Robles is one of the combinations in the list.
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4. Find a Pattern

When you use this strategy, make an organized list of the information given in
the problem and look for a pattern from the given information. Once you have identified
the pattern, you can predict what will happen next and then continue the pattern to find
the correct solution.

Example:

Jeffrey goes to the gym every week for his work out. He spent 15 minutes in
the first week, 20 minutes in the second week, 27 minutes in the third week, and 36
minutes in the fourth week. How many minutes will he spend working out in the eighth
week?

Solution:

Step 1. Understand the Problem

Jeffrey spent 15 minutes, 20 minutes, 27 minutes, and 36 minutes in the first

four weeks. We need to know how much time Jeffrey will spend working out in the
eighth week.

Step 2. Devise a Plan

Let us prepare a table to show the data and try to find a pattern.

Week 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
No. of Minutes 15 20 27 36

Step 3. Carry out the Plan

Week 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
No. of Minutes 15 20 27 36 47 60 75 92

+5 +7 +9 +11 +13 +15 +17

From the table, we can see that the pattern is the addition of consecutive odd
numbers starting with 5. In the eighth week, Jeffrey will spend 92 minutes for his work
out.

Step 4. Look Back

The number of minutes in the table formed a number sequence. Check whether
each term in the sequence is correct by using the pattern found in the problem.
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5. Working Backwards

Working backwards is an excellent strategy to use when the outcome of the

problem has already been given. This strategy is used when the problem is presented
in steps. Start at the end of the problem and perform each step toward the beginning
of the problem to get the answer. Remember to use the reverse operation when
working backwards. If addition is to be performed when working forwards, subtraction
must be done when working backwards. Division must be performed when working
forwards involve multiplication. After obtaining the answer, verify its correctness by
performing all the operations one step at a time from the beginning towards the end of
the problem.

Example:

Cristine received her allowance for the day. On her way to school, she spent
Php36 for the fare. When she reached her school, she bought a pancake worth Php15
before entering her class. She spent Php30 for snacks and Php65 for lunch. A
classmate who owed her Php200 paid her on that day. She gave her group leader
Php50 as contribution to their school project. She went home after school and again
paid Php36 for the fare. She was left with Php268. How much was the allowance given
to her?

Solution:

Step 1. Understand the Problem

We need to determine the allowance she received before paying the fare on
her way to school.

Step 2. Devise a Plan

This problem can be solved by the use a variable strategy. But let us try to solve
this using working backwards.

Step 3. Carry out the Plan

We may start with Php268.00, the money that was left to her.
268+36 = 304 (add Php36, fare going home)
304 + 50 = 354 (add Php50, school project)
354 - 200 = 154 (subtract Php200, payment for the amount owed by
classmate)
154 + 65 = 219 (add Php65, lunch)
219 + 30 = 249 (add Php30, snacks)
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249 + 15 = 264 (add Php15, pancake)

264 + 36 = 300 (add Php36, fare)
Cristine received an allowance of Php300.00.
Step 4. Look Back
Let us check our solution by starting with Php300.00.
300 – (36 + 50) + 200 – (65+30+15+36) = 268
300 – 86 + 200 – 146 = 268
268 = 268
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References

Aufmann, R.N., et. Al. (2018). Mathematics in the Modern World (14th ed.). Sampaloc,
Manila: Rex Book Store, Inc.

Earnheart, R. and Adina, E. (2018). Math in the Modern World. Quezon City : C&E
Publishing, Inc.

Musser, G. L., Burger, W. F., & Peterson, B. E. (2003). Mathematics for Elementary
Teachers (6th ed.). John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Online Reference

Houston Math Prep. (2020, June 26). Problem Solving (Guess and Check). YouTube.
Retrieved July 12, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekJibqYIoLg