Mathematics in the Modern World

Problem Solving
Strategies
 George Polya’s Four-Step Problem-Solving Strategy
1. Understand the problem
2. Devise a plan
3. Carry out the plan
4. Look back

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MMW || Problem Solving
 Example 1
Bugsay wishes to walk along the streets from point A to
point B. How many direct routes can Bugsay take?

. Technique Solve a similar but simpler problem

.

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MMW || Problem Solving
 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

1 2 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5

1
3 6 1
3 6 10 15

1 4 10 20
35
.

.
Technique Look for a pattern There are 35 routes.
.

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MMW || Problem Solving
 N
* SE
2
* ES
W E
* SSEE
* SESE
* SEES
S * EESS
4 E 6 * ESES
1 direct route * ESSE
.

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3 S
. Technique Make an organized list
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MMW || Problem Solving
 N
A combination is a selection
of items from a collection,
W E such that the order of
selection does not matter

𝑛 𝑛!
S =
𝑘 𝑘! 𝑛 − 𝑘 !
7 decisions “ 𝑛 choose 𝑘 “
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 7! 7! 7 ∙ 6 ∙ 5 ∙ 4!
.
7
= = =
.

.
S E S E S E E 3 3! 7 − 3 ! 3! 4! 3 ∙ 2 ∙ 1 ∙ 4!

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3 blocks going to SOUTH = 35
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MMW || Problem Solving
 Check your progress!

Bugsay wishes to walk

directly from point A to point
B. How many different routes
can he take if he wants to go
past Starbucks on Third
Avenue?

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#PadayonSaPaglamboCSU
.

. #BugsayPaMore
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MMW || Problem Solving