Mathematics in the Modern World – UNIT 3

Problem Solving

Department of Mathematics and Physics

University of Santo Tomas

Prepared by: Xandro Alexi Nieto

Contributors: Myla Detecio, Mark Lao
What was your very first
problem? And how did
you solve it?

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 One of our
daily problems
is waking up
early (hoping
that we don’t
come to
school late).

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Functions
Eventually, we learn how
to solve problems in our
daily life.

When we are late to school,

because of traffic.

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Functions

Kung paano ka
papasa sa mga
subjects mo

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 Functions
And one of the hardest questions of all time…

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Everyday, we encounter problems…. And we get through it.

To have an easier way to solve problems, George Polya

invented a way …

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In 1945, George Polya published the book How
To Solve It in which he identifies four basic
principles of problem solving.

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 Mathematics in theTHE
UNDERSTANDING Modern World – UNIT 3
PROBLEM

• Do you understand all the words used in stating the

problem?
• Can you restate the problem in your own words?
• What is the unknown? What are the data? What is the
condition?
• Is there enough information to enable you to find a
solution?
• Can you think of a picture or diagram that might help you
understand the problem?

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 Mathematics
DEVISE in the Modern World – UNIT 3
A PLAN

• Find the connection between the data and the unknown.

• Have you seen it before? Do you know a related
problem? Do you know a theorem that could be useful?
• Look at the unknown! Try to think of a familiar problem
having the same or a similar unknown.
• If you cannot solve the proposed problem, try to solve
first some related problem.
• Did you use all the data? Did you use the whole
condition? Have you taken into account all essential
notions involved in the problem?

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Mathematics
DEVISE in the Modern World – UNIT 3
A PLAN

• Some strategies in problem-solving:

• Trial and Error • Work backwards
• Find a pattern • Use symmetry
• Make a table • Look at an extreme case
• Draw a figure • Change perspective
• Use an equation • Use logic
• Solve a simpler problem
• Consider cases
• Act out

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 Mathematics
CARRY OUT THE
in the Modern World – UNIT 3
PLAN

• Check each step.

• Can you see clearly that the step is correct?

• Can you prove that it is correct?

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 BACK in the Modern World – UNIT 3
Mathematics
LOOK

• Can you check the result? Can you check the argument?

• Can you derive the solution differently? Can you see it at a

glance?

• Can you use the result, or the method, for some other
problem?

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Mathematics in the Modern World – UNIT 3

In problem-solving, you can use

either DEDUCTIVE or INDUCTIVE
reasoning

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Mathematics in the Modern World – UNIT 3

DEDUCTIVE
REASONING
the process of making a
conclusion by applying
the correct hypothesis,
procedure or principles.
INDUCTIVE
REASONING
the process of making a
conclusion base on the
observation, but in
sometimes the conclusion
may not be accurate.

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Mathematics in the Modern World – UNIT 3

DEDUCTIVE INDUCTIVE
REASONING REASONING
Ex. Ex.
How we solve Math “The first few activities in
problems on exams, Math in the Modern World
apply the formula are easy (specific), therefore
(general) to the Math in the Modern World
question (specific). is easy (general)”.

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Mathematics in the Modern World – UNIT 3

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Mathematics in the Modern World – UNIT 3
Example

It’s Sept 3, 12MN, and

starting at the bottom of a
15-foot hole, a bug crawls
up 3 feet each day but slips
down 2 feet each night. On
what date will it emerge
from the hole?

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Mathematics
Example in the Modern World – UNIT 3
(Answer)

After one day (Sept 4), the bug crawled

one feet only (3 ft up then slips down 2
feet).
After two days (Sept 5), the bug
crawled another one feet…. So two
feet all in all.
After three days (Sept 6), the bug
crawled up another one feet. So three
feet all in all.
The process continues…

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Mathematics
Example in the Modern World – UNIT 3
(Answer)

After 12 days (Sept 15), the bug

crawled up another one feet. So
12 feet all in all.
On the 13th day (Sept 16), the
bug will be able to crawl up
another three feet. So that
makes it 15 feet. It now emerged
from the hole.
(It will not slip down anymore
because he’s emerged already).
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Mathematics in the Modern World – UNIT 3

END OF UNIT 3