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Polya's Problem Solving Strategy

Polya's problem solving strategy consists of 4 steps: 1) Understand the problem by restating it and determining what is known and unknown, 2) Devise a plan by making lists, diagrams, or equations to solve the problem, 3) Carry out the plan with patience and care, modifying the approach if needed, and 4) Review the solution to check that it makes sense and identify any lessons learned. The example demonstrates applying each step to solve an algebraic word problem for a number.

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355 views2 pages

Polya's Problem Solving Strategy

Polya's problem solving strategy consists of 4 steps: 1) Understand the problem by restating it and determining what is known and unknown, 2) Devise a plan by making lists, diagrams, or equations to solve the problem, 3) Carry out the plan with patience and care, modifying the approach if needed, and 4) Review the solution to check that it makes sense and identify any lessons learned. The example demonstrates applying each step to solve an algebraic word problem for a number.

Uploaded by

Kyla Esteron
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

1. Understand the Problem

Sometimes, the problem lies in the understanding the problem itself. To help us understand the problem,
we might consider the following:

 Can you restate the problems in your own words?


 Can you determine what is known in these types of problems?
 What is the goal?
 What is being asked?
 What is the condition?
 What sort of problem is it?
 What is known or unknown?
 Is there enough information?

2. Devise a plan

Devising a plan (translating) is a way to solve the problem by picturing how we are going to attack the
problem.

 Make a list of the known information.


 Make a list of information that is needed.
 Draw a diagram
 Make a table or chart
 Work backwards
 Look for a pattern
 Write an equation, if necessary define what each variable represents.
 Guess at a solution and then check your result.

3. Carry out a plan

In carrying out the plan (solve), we need to execute the equation we came up to step 2. The main key is to
be patient and careful, even if we have necessary skills.

 Be patient.
 Work carefully.
 Modify the plan or try a new plan.
 Keep trying until something works.
 Implement the strategy and strategies in Step 2.
 Try another strategy if the first one isn’t working.
 Be determined and don’t get discouraged if the plan does not work immediately.
4. Review the solution
This step helps in identifying if there is a mistake in the solution. It is time to reflect and look back
what is done, what worked, and what didn’t.

 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: Two times the sum of a number and 3 is equal to thrice the number plus 4. Find the number.

Understand the Problem We need to make sure that we have read the question carefully several
times. Since we are looking for a number, we will let x be a number.
Devise a plan We will translate the problem mathematically. Two times the sum of a
number and 3 is equal to thrice the number plus 4.

2(x+3)= 3x + 4

Carry out the plan We solve for the value of x, algebraically.


2(x+3)= 3x+ 4
2x +6= 3x + 4
3x-2x= 6-4
X= 2

Review the solution If we take two times the sum of 2 and 3, that is the same as thrice the
number 2 plus 4 which is 10, so this does check. Thus, the number is 2.

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