POLYA’S STRATEGY

1. Guess and Check

The product of the ages, in years, of three teenagers is 4590. None of the teens are the same age. What are the ages of
the teenagers?

Solution:

Understand the Problem. We need to determine three distinct counting numbers, from the list 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and
19.

Devise a Plan. If we represent the ages 𝑥, 𝑦 and 𝑧, then 𝑥𝑦𝑧 = 4590. We are unable to solve this equation, but we notice
that 4590 ends in a zero. Hence, 4590 has a factor of 2 and a factor of 5, which means that at least one of the numbers
we seek must be an even number and at least one number must have 5 as a factor. The only number in our list that has 5
as a factor is 15. Thus 15 is one of the numbers, and at least one of the other number must be an even number. At this
point we try to solve by guessing and checking.

Carry Out the Plan.

15 ∙ 16 ∙ 18 = 4320
15 ∙ 16 ∙ 19 = 4560
15 ∙ 17 ∙ 18 = 4590
The ages of the teenagers are 15, 17, 18

Review the Solution. Because 15 ∙ 17 ∙ 18 = 4590 and each of the ages represents the age of a teenager, we know our
solution is correct. None of the numbers 13,14,16 and 19 is a factor (divisor) of 4590, so there are no other solution.

2. Work Backwards

In consecutive turns of a Monopoly game, Stacy first paid $800 for a hotel. She then lost half her money when she
landed on Boardwalk. Next, she collected $200 for passing GO. She then lost half her remaining money when she landed
in Illinois Avenue. Stacy now has 2500. How did she have just before she purchased the hotel?

Solution:

Understand the Problem. Need to determine the number of dollars that Stacy had just prior to her $800 hotel purchase.

Devise a Plan. Guess and check might need to make several guesses the correct solution is found. An algebraic method
might work, but setting up the necessary equation could be a challenge. Since the end result is known, try the method of
working backwards.

Carry Out the Plan. Stacy must she have had $5000 just before she landed on Illinois Avenue; $4800 just before she passed
GO; and $9600 prior to landing on Boardwalk. This means she had $10,400 just before she purchased the hotel.

Review the Solution. To check the solution, start with $10,400 and proceed through each of the transactions. $10,400 less
$800 is $9600. Half of $9600 is $4800. $4800 increased by $200 is $5000. Half of $5000 is $2500.
3. Write an Equation

A hat and a jacket together cost $100. The jacket costs $90 more than the hat. What are the cost of the hat and the cost
of the jacket?

Solution:

Understand the Problem. After reading the problem the first time, one may think that the jacket costs $90 and the hat
costs $10. The sum of these costs is $100, but the cost of the jacket is only $80 more than the cost of the hat. So, find two
dollar amounts that differ by $90 and whose sum is $100.

Devise a Plan. Write an equation using ℎ for the cost of the hat and ℎ + 90 for the cost of the jacket.
ℎ + ℎ + 90 = 100

Carry Out the Plan. Solve ℎ.

ℎ + ℎ + 90 = 100
2ℎ + 90 = 100
2ℎ = 10
ℎ=5
The cost of the hat is $5 and the cost of the Jacket $95.

Review the Solution. The sum of the costs is $5 + $95 = $100, and the cost of the jacket is $90 more than the cost of the
hat. This check confirms that the hat costs $5 and the jacket costs $95.

4. Make a Table and Look for a Pattern.

𝟕
Determine the digit 100 places to the right of the decimal point in the decimal representation .
𝟐𝟕

Solution:

7
Understand the Problem. Express the fraction as a decimal and look for a pattern that will enable to determine the digit
27
100 places to the right of the decimal point.

Devise a Plan. Dividing 27 into 7 by long division or by using calculator produces the decimal 0.259259259… . Since the
decimal representation repeats the digits 259 over and over forever. So, the digit located 100 places to the right of the
decimal point is either a 2, a 5 or a 9. A table may help to see a pattern and determine which one of the digit is in the 100 th
place. Since the decimal digits repeat every three digits, use a table with 3 columns.

7
The First 15 Decimal Digits of
27
Column 1 Column 2 Column 4
Location Digit Location Digit Location Digit
1st 2 2nd 5 3rd 9
th th th
4 2 5 5 6 9
7th 2 8th 5 9th 9
10th 2 11th 5 12th 9
th th th
13 2 14 5 15 9
. . .
. . .
. . .
Carry Out the Plan. Only in column 3 is each of the decimal digit locations evenly divisible by 3. From this pattern we can
tell that the 99th decimal digit (because 99 is divisible by 3) must be 9. Since a 2 always follows a 9 in the pattern, the 100 th
decimal digit must be a 2.

Review the Solution. The table illustrates additional patterns. For instance, if each of the location numbers in column 1 is
divided by 3, a remainder of 1 is produced. If each of the location numbers in column 2 is divided by 3, a remainder of 2 is
produced. Thus, we can find the decimal digit in any location by dividing the location number by 3 and examining the
remainder.

5. Solve a Similar but Simpler Problem

In a basketball league consisting of 10 teams, each team plays each of the other teams exactly three times How many
league games will be played.

Understand the Problem. There are 10 teams in the league, and each team plays exactly three games against each of the
other teams. The problem is to determine the total number of league games that will be played.

Devise a Plan. Try the strategy of working a similar but simpler problem. Consider a league with only four teams (denoted
by A, B, C, and D) in which each team plays each of the other teams only once.

The diagram at the left illustrates that the games can be represented by line segments that
connect the points A, B, C, and D.

Since each of the four teams will play against each of the other three, this would result in 4 ∙ 3 =
12 games. However the diagram shows only 6 line segments. It appears that the procedure has
counted each game twice. For instance, when team A plays team B, team B also plays team A. To
produce the correct result, divide the previous result, 12, by 2. Hence, four teams can play each
4∙3
other once in = 6 games.
2

10∙9
Carry Out the Plan. Using the process developed above, note that 10 teams can play each other once in a total of =
2
45 games. Since each teams plays each opponent three times, the total number of games is 45 ∙ 3 = 135.

Review the Solution. Make an organized list that includes all 10 teams represented by A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, and J.

AB AC AD AE AF AG AH AI AJ
BC BD BE BF BG BH BI BJ
CD CE CF CG CH CI CJ
DE DF DG DH DI DJ
EF EG EH EI EJ
FG FH FI FJ
GH GI GJ
HI HJ
IJ
This list shows that 45 games are required for each team to play each of the other teams once. Also notice that the first
row has nine items, the second row has eight items, the third row has seven items, and so on. Thus 10 teams require
9 + 8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1 =45 games if each team plays every other team once, and 45 ∙ 3 = 135 games if each team
plays exactly three games against each opponent.