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Chap6c. Problem Solving Strategies

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Jan M.
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16 views

Chap6c. Problem Solving Strategies

Uploaded by

Jan M.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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class rules

❑ RULE #1: ❑ RULE #3:

❑ RULE #2: ❑ RULE #4:


course outline (GE Math 1)
Chapter 1 – The Nature of Mathematics
Chapter 2 – Mathematical Langauge and Symbols
Chapter 3 – The Language of Sets
Chapter 4 – Functions and Relations
Chapter 5 – Logic and Conditional Statements
Chapter 6 – Patterns and Problem Solving
Chapter 7 – Statistics
Chapter 8 – Graph Theory
Chapter 9 – Modular Arithmetic
Chapter 10 – Cryptology
CHAPTER 6c.
PROBLEM SOLVING
AND REASONING–
Problem Solving Strategies

Core Idea
“Mathematics is not just about numbers;
much of it is problem solving and reasoning.”
learning objectives
1. become familiar of the problem solving heuristics and
be able to identify the strategy most appropriate for
the problem;
2. use problem-solving strategies to investigate and
understand mathematical content;
3. acquire skill in developing and applying a variety of
strategies to solve problems; and
4. verify and generalize results with respect to the original
problem situation.
POLYA’S PROBLEM SOLVING STRATEGY

1. Understand the problem.


2. Devise a plan.
3. Carry out the plan.
4. Review the solution
Historical background
❑George Polya (1887-1985): advocated basic problem-
solving strategy which consists of four steps.
ROUTE PROBLEM

Example 1a.
Consider the map shown.
Allison wishes to walk
along the streets from
point A to point B. How
many direct routes can
Allison take?
ROUTE PROBLEM

Example 1a.
Consider the map shown.
Allison wishes to walk
along the streets from
point A to point B. How
many direct routes can
Allison take? A simple diagram of
the street map.
ROUTE PROBLEM

Example 1a.
Consider the map shown.
Allison wishes to walk
along the streets from
point A to point B. How
many direct routes can
Allison take? A street diagram with the
number of routes to each
intersection labeled
ROUTE PROBLEM

Example 1b.
Consider the map shown.
Allison wishes to walk
along the streets from
point A to point B (No
back tracking). How
many direct routes can
Allison take?
ROUTE PROBLEM

Example 1c.

How many direct routes are


there from A to B if Allison
wants to pass by Starbucks?
RIVER CROSSING PROBLEM
Example 2.
Four people on one side of the river need to cross the
river in a boat that can carry a maximum load of 180
pounds. The weights of the people are 80, 100, 150,
and 170 pounds.

a. Explain how the people can use the boat to get


everyone to the opposite side of the river.
b. What is the minimum number of crossings that must
be made by the boat?
PUZZLE FROM A MOVIE

Example 3.

In the movie die hard: With a Vengeance, Bruce Willis


and Samuel Jackson are given a 5-gallon jug and a 3-
gallon jug and they must put exactly 4 gallons of water
on a scale to keep a bomb from exploding. Explain how
they could accomplish this feat.
FAKE COIN PROBLEM

Example 4.

You have eight coins. They all look identical, but one is
a fake and slightly lighter than the others. Explain how
you can use the balance scale to determine which coin
is the fake in exactly
a. three weighings
b. two weighings
OTHER PROBLEMS
Example 5.
In a basketball league of 12 teams, each team plays each
of the other teams exactly three times. How many league
games will be played?

Example 6.
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. Shen then lost half of her remaining money when she
landed on Illinois Avenue. Stacy now has $2500. How
much did she have just before she purchased the hotel?
End of Discussion…

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