MODULE 1 PROBLEM SOLVING

LESSON 3
IMPORTANCE OF PROBLEM SOLVING

Objectives: At the end of this lesson, you should be able to

1. Enumerate the different importance of problem solving.
2. Explain why problem solving is important in mathematics.
3. Discuss how problem solving contribute to a student’s academic development.

Discussion:

The most obvious reason for teaching problem solving is that it is part of the
Mathematical Processes Strand and therefore is part of the mathematics curriculum.

 Why is problem solving an important part of mathematics?

 How does it contribute to you academic development?

The following are some reasons as to why problem solving is an essential part of
the mathematics curriculum.
1. It reveals students’ mathematical development based from their current
knowledge. Presently much acceptance is being given to a theory of learning called
constructivism. This proposes that you construct your knowledge through your
experience rather than absorbing what you are told. The constructivist views the student
as an active learner. Since most of the problems used in problem solving have more than
one solution, each of them can be approached in a variety of ways, some of which are
sophisticated and some less sophisticated. Hopefully, every student in the class can find
one approach that they can use to solve the problems. Over time, and from seeing what
other students have done, you should be able to develop and extend the range of
strategies that the students have at their disposal. So, starting with the members of your
own class in mind, problems can be found that can give every student in the class the
chance of making some progress toward a solution, either on their own or with the
assistance of others in their group. Hence, all students can develop from their current
knowledge.
2. It is an interesting and enjoyable way to learn mathematics. Problem solving
seems to employ problems that are implicitly interesting to students. This is partly

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IMPORTANCE OF PROBLEM SOLVING Lesson 3

because problem solving does not involve a sequence of very similar questions that are
designed to practice the same skill. The novelty of the problem adds to students’ interest.
Many teachers personalize word problems to include characters that students in
the class know. This also makes the problem more interesting and relevant. The questions
can be very interesting in themselves. This is partly because students enjoy getting the
answer after having struggled with the problem.
3. It is a way to learn new mathematics with greater understanding. In the
process of struggling with a problem, students can often obtain a fairly deep
understanding of the mathematics surrounding the problem. This understanding is often
enhanced, when, in a whole class setting, teachers draw together the various threads from
all of the students in the class.
4. It produces positive attitudes towards mathematics. Because the students
enjoy solving the problems, and get quite involved with them as we have seen students
work through their breaks in order to settle a problem, it makes them gain positive
attitudes towards the subject.
5. It makes the student a junior research mathematician. The way that students
tackle problems is virtually the same as the way a researcher tackles research problems.
There is very little difference between a student using the scientific approach to solve
problem and a mathematician using it to do research. Hence through problem solving,
students get a much better feel for what mathematics is actually about than they get in the
more traditional type of teaching. They begin to see that the subject is a live one, get
some feeling for the way it is created, and see why certain things are done in certain
ways. This increases their insight into the subject as a whole and gives them a better
feeling for what the subject is and what it is trying to do.
6. It teaches thinking, flexibility and creativity. Problem solving provides an
opportunity for students to explore ideas and gives them the chance to extend their
creativity. Students are continually coming up with new ways of solving problems.
Sometimes these students are not the ones who we generally think of as being good at
mathematics in the class. Apparently, relatively weak students may have ideas that may
turn out to be fruitful. Sometimes though, it can take a little work on the part of the
teacher before the consequences of some ideas are seen.

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 MODULE 1 PROBLEM SOLVING

7. It teaches general problem solving skills. It is important to point out that though
mathematics teachers are concentrating on mathematical problem solving, many of the
strategies and technique that are used in mathematics are used in any type of problem.
The four stages of problem solving are quite general steps that can be applied to any
problem whether mathematical or not.
8. It encourages cooperative skills. Very little encouragement has been given to
cooperation in the traditional didactic approach to teaching mathematics. But working in
groups has advantages. Somehow, talking mathematics out loud appears to help learning
and understanding, and it also help many students produce original ideas. So emphasizing
group work in problem solving increase enjoyment, learning and social skills such as
communication.
9. It is a useful way to practice mathematical skills learned by other means.
Some teachers use problems to reinforce technical skills that have been taught in other
ways. Certain problems are chosen because they will use certain algorithmic skills.
Hopefully after doing lots of examples the students will start to see some patterns. We
have also mentioned the practicing of skills under the strategy ‘guess and check’,
‘working backwards’ and ‘logical reasoning’. By choosing problems of this type the
students have an opportunity to work on basic skills in an interesting situation.
10. It is similar in approach to the way that other subjects are taught in school.
Approaching mathematics through a problem solving perspective puts the subject much
more at par with other subjects. The general philosophy of the teacher as a facilitator
helping the student to learn and understand is much more akin to the philosophy adopted
in other areas of the curriculum than it is in the more traditional approach to mathematics.

Activity 1.3

Direction: Answer the following.

1. Why is problem solving an important part of mathematics?

2. How do problem solving contribute to your academic development?

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