Module 3
Problem Solving
and Reasoning
Section 2
Problem Solving
Strategies
Polya: “The Father of
Problem Solving”
• George Pólya was a Hungarian
mathematician and one of the most
remarkable mathematicians of the
20th Century, who made fundamental
contributions to a wide range of topics
and to the theory of problem solving
Pólya explained that to
solve problems required the
study of heuristic:-
The aim of heuristic is to study the
methods and rules of discovery and
invention .... Systematically giving
opportunity to the student to discover
things by himself.
Reference: http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/history/Biographies/Polya.html
1. Understand the problem
• Do you understand all the words used in stating
the problem?
• What are you asked to find or show?
• Can you restate the problem in your own
words?
• Can you think of a picture or diagram that might
help you understand the problem?
• Is there enough information to enable you to
find a solution?
Reference: http://www.math.wichita.edu/history/men/polya.html 6
2. Devise a plan
• Find the connection between the
data and the unknown.
• Consider auxiliary problems if an
immediate connection cannot be
found.
Obtain a plan of the solution.
• Create a list of strategies .
Reference: http://scimath.unl.edu/conferences/documents/K-2ProblemSolvers.pdf
3. Carry out the plan
Carry out your plan of the solution, check
each step.
• Persist with the plan that you have chosen.
• If it continues not to work discard it and
choose another. Don't be misled, this is
how mathematics is done, even by
professionals.
Reference: http://scimath.unl.edu/conferences/documents/K-2ProblemSolvers.pdf
4. Look back
Examine the solution obtained.
• Much can be gained by taking the
time to reflect and look back at
what you have done, what worked,
and what didn't.
• Doing this will enable you to predict
what strategy to use to solve future
problems.
Refer ence:http://scimath.unl.edu/conferences/documents/K-2ProblemSolvers.pdf
Examples:
1. Solving a Tour
Problem
An agency charged P15,000 for a 3-
day and 2-night tour in Macau and
P20,000 for the same tour with a
side trip to Hongkong (HK). Ten
persons joined the trip, which
enabled them to collect P170,000.
how many tourists made a side trip?
Reference: Mathematics in the Modern World by Ragasa, et.al.
Solution:
Step 1: Understand the Problem
There are two types of tourists here. Some
purely stayed in Macau while others made a
side trip to HK. From the total collection, how
much was the amount collected from those
who purely stayed in Macau and how much
was collected from those who made side trips
to HK. We need to know how many were
bound for Macau but who made a side trip to
HK.
Step2. Devise a plan.
Use x and y to represent
the 2 types of tourists. Define these
variables. The algebraic equations:
P15,000 x = amount collected from the
tourists bound for Macau
alone
P20,000 y = amount collected from the
tourists bound for Macau
and HK
Step 3. Carry Out the Plan.
Write the equations and solve
using the elimination method to the
systems of equations.
Equations:
x + y = 10 (1)
15,000 x + 20,000 y = 170,000 (2)
To find the number of tourists bound for
Macau & HK, solve for y.
To do this, use elimination by
substitution.
A. solve for y in (1)
x + y = 10 y = 10 – x (3)
B. Substitute y = 10 – x in (2)
15,000x + 20,000(10 – x) = 170,000
– 5,000x = - 30,000
x=6
Substituting x = 6 in (3), y = 4
Therefore 4 tourists made a side trip to HK.
4. Review the solution.
Since there are a total of 10 tourists,
6 of them only stayed in Macau. Now,
15,000(6) + 20,000(4) = 170,000.
This satisfies the condition that the
total amount collected for the whole
trip is P170,000.
Solution 2: Using Guess and Check
Macau HK Amount
10 0 10(15000) + 0
=150,000
9 1 155,000
8 2 160,000
7 3 165,000
6 4 170,000
Examples:
2. Solving a Problem Involving
Money
Tooth extraction in a certain dental
clinic costs Php1,000 for adults and
Php750 for children. Receipts for the
month showed that 280 patients
underwent tooth extraction and
Php260,000 was collected. How many
children underwent tooth extraction
that month?
Solution:
Cost Quantity Value
Adult 1,000 280 - x 1,000(280 – x)
Children 750 x 750x
VA + VC = 260,000
1,000(280 – x) + 750x = 260,000
280,000 – 1,000x + 750x = 260,000
20,000 = 250x
250 250
x = 80
Therefore, 80 children underwent
tooth extraction that month.
Check:
?
1,000(280 – x) + 750x = 260,000
?
280,000 – 1,000x + 750x = 260,000
?
280,000 – 1,000(80) + 750(80) = 260,000
?
280,000 – 80,000 + 60,000 = 260,000
✓
260,000 = 260,000
3. Geometry Problem – using a diagram
The perimeter of a triangle
is 22 ft. Two sides of the
triangle are equal. The third
side is two feet less than
the length of one of the
equal sides. Find the
measures of the three sides
of the triangle. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed
under CC BY-SA
Solution:
Given: P = 22 ft
s1 = s2 = x
measure of the two sides
s3 = x1 – 2
measure of the third side
s1 , s2, s3 = ?
P = s1 + s2 + s3
22 = x + x + x – 2
22 = 3x – 2
3x = 24
x = 8 ft (measure of the
two equal sides)
x – 2 = 8 – 2 = 6 ft
(measure of the third side)
Review the solution:
?
22 = x + x + x – 2
?
22 = 8 + 8 + 8 – 2
?
22 = 24 – 2
✓
22 = 22
4. Calculating Volumes for Injection
Mr. Tang has been ordered
80mg of Tramadol Hydrochloride
for pain relief. Available stock on
the ward is 100mg/2ml. Calculate
the volume to be drawn up for
injection.
Solution: 80 (2) = 160 = 1.6 ml
100 100
6. Work Problem
Hannah can do a certain job in 10
days. After working alone for 4 days,
she is joined by Ashley. Together they
finished the work in 2 more days.
How long would it take Ashley to do
the job alone?
Solution:
r t Part of
the job
Hannah 1/10 6 3/5
Ashley 1/x 2 2/x
3/5 + 2/x = 1
5x [3/5 + 2/x = 1] 5x
3x + 10 = 5x
2x = 10
x = 5 days
Therefore, Ashley can finish the
job in 5 days only.
6. Make an organized
list
1. CEU Basketball
team won 3 out of
their last 6 games. In
how many different
orders could they
have attained 3 wins
and 3 losses in 6
games.?
Reference: Mathematics in the Modern World by
Baltazar, et. al.
Answers:
1. Here are the different orders:
a. WWWLLL i. LLLWWW
b. WWLWLL j. LLWLWW
c. WWLLWL k. LLWWLW
d. WWLLLW l. LLWWWL
e. WLLLWW m. LWWWLL
f. WLLWWL n. LWLLWW
g. WLWWLL o. LWLLWW
h. WLWLWL p. LWLWLW
2. The grade in Ana’s Math class will
be determined completely by three
tests, each worth 100 points. She
scored 78 and 84 on the first two
sets, but still hopes to get 1.5, which
would require an average of 92. What
is the minimum score she can get on
the third test?
Reference: Math In Our World by Dave Sobecki
2. With the third score of 100, Ana’s
average would be
78 + 84 +100 = 262 = 87.3
3 3
Even with a perfect score, her average
will be only 87.3, so it’s not possible
for her to get a 1.5.
So, there’s no solution to the
problem.
Resources:
https://fyimaths.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/larkins.pptx
https://www.slideshare.net/mrjdfield/polya-problem-solving-cycle
https://www.google.com/search?q=creativecommons.org+picture+og
+polya%27s+method+in+problem+solving&client=firefox-
b&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiV1K3tqrnaAhUDbr
wKHRUgC5cQ_AUICigB&biw=1280&bih=686#imgrc=aqv3BsBuxEiY
iM:
https://www.google.com/search?q=creativecommons.org+picture+og
+polya%27s+method+in+problem+solving&client=firefox-
b&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiV1K3tqrnaAhUDbr
wKHRUgC5cQ_AUICigB&biw=1280&bih=686#imgrc=15hP1tP_TkkE
-M:
https://math.berkeley.edu/~gmelvin/polya.pdf
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-
b&biw=1280&bih=686&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=P-
fRWovDC9Ps0ASq5pCwDA&q=creativecommons.org+picture+of+to
urists+in+Macau+and+Hongkong&oq=creativecommons.org+picture
+of+tourists+in+Macau+and+Hongkong&gs_l=psy-
ab.3...35882.40960.0.41224.22.22.0.0.0.0.226.2518.1j20j1.22.0....0..
.1c.1.64.psy-ab..0.0.0....0.qvO3UxLHBj4#imgrc=c8bTXzsEhrccKM:
Resources:
https://manila.ceu.edu.ph/ceu-scorpions-bags-ucbl-debut-
title
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-
b&biw=1280&bih=686&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=Og_SWqDpNY
W30gTf9Ko4&q=creativecommons.org+picture+of+filipino+s
tudent+taking+a+test&oq=creativecommons.org+picture+of+
filipino+student+taking+a+test&gs_l=psy-
ab.3...96082.98580.0.99506.9.9.0.0.0.0.122.946.3j6.9.0....0.
..1c.1.64.psy-
ab..0.0.0....0.5ApAYTNUAUg#imgrc=Coxz7UhC8LXAlM:
https://www.slideshare.net/mrjdfield/polya-problem-
solving-cycle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9_ZS-3CAXM
