Mathematical Problem Solving and Mind Mapping

I. Introduction

In this paper I will describe how the well-known mind mapping technique can be used to solve mathematicalproblems.

What is the main idea?

You use one principal mindmap and one or several additional mind maps at a time.The first mind map is used for examining the given problem. It is produced during the process of problemsolving.The additional mind maps are at least in part prepared in advance. They contain all kinds of heuristic operatorsthat might be useful in dealing with the problem, from higher-level operators like strategies to lower-leveloperators like technical tools. They may even provide advice for emotional emergencies like frustration.You may consult these mind maps whenever help is needed. Moreover, you can adapt them at any time: Addnew operators, abbreviate complex ones you have become familiar with or delete redundant ones.

What are the main benefits?

The additional mind maps provide a large number of tools. Due to the mind map characteristics it is easy to findappropriate tools.The additional maps can be adapted to different problem types and to any level of expertise.The concept stimulates active thinking about problem solving habits.Part II contains, mostly for the sake of completeness, a brief introduction to mind mapping. It can be skipped byanyone who is familiar with the technique.Part III describes how the concept is used, with examples of principal and additional mind maps.Part IV discusses the advantages of the concept.Part V lists the literature I have used in writing this paper.

II. Mind Mapping

Mind mapping is a simple yet powerful technique for taking notes and organizing ideas. The method wasdeveloped in the 1970s by Tony Buzan, a British expert on learning.The human brain seems to be well adapted to do the following things:-

forming associations,-

building hierarchies of concepts,-

using both words and images (the image part often being neglected in education).Exploiting these strong points, a mind map is produced as follows:You need a sheet of paper, preferably size A4 or larger, and writing pens, preferably in different colours.Take the sheet of paper in landscape format, write your topic in the middle of the sheet and draw a frame aroundit. This helps you to stay focused on your topic and encourages you to develop ideas literally in all directions.Now write the most relevant aspects of your topic round the center and connect them to the center by lines.These branches can be further developed into subbranches. This helps you to build hierarchies and to find anappropriate place for your associations.Throughout the process of mind mapping, use single keywords rather than complete sentences. Use images, likesymbols, icons and little drawings. This helps you to stimulate associations and exploit your abilities for bothverbal and visual thinking.Organize your ideas by numbering branches, highlighting important concepts, e.g. by using colours and usingarrows.These easy instructions are the core of the mind mapping technique.Here comes a short assessment.

Advantages of mind mapping:

Mind mapping is a powerful technique for stimulating, ordering and organizing ideas.

2It can be used almost everywhere and can be adapted to practically all purposes - from writing a diary toplanning a birthday party and from taking notes during a lecture to solving mathematical problems.Moreover, it is easy and pleasant to use.

Disadvantages of mind mapping:

The use of keywords and images (besides problems like untidy handwriting) makes mind maps not the idealtechnique for communicating ideas.Mind maps may tempt you to shun difficult questions in several ways: By digression to more accessible aspectsof your topic or by tackling a problem on an inappropriate level, e.g. by exaggerated planning.But in summary, the advantages easily outweigh the shortcomings.There is a growing number of computer programs for mind mapping, some of them rather advanced.A brief internet search yields several programs and downloads.An thorough discussion of mind mapping can be found in ‘The Mind Map Book’ by Tony and Barry Buzan.

III. Tandem Mind Mapping: Using several mind maps at a time

III.1 Terminology

The principal mind map in which you examine the given problem will be called basic map. The additional mindmaps with information on heuristic strategies and tools will be called heuristic maps.The process of using basic maps and heuristic maps at a time will be called tandem mind mapping.The words ‘tool‘ and ‘operator‘ refer quite generally to any technique you may find useful in solving a problem.

III.2 Content of heuristic maps

Here comes a list of operators that may be useful in mathematical problem solving. The list is in no wayexhaustive. Moreover, single tools may fit into several of the following operator groups.I cannot claim to be an expert in solving mathematical problems, and the main objective of this list is to givesome impression of what heuristic maps may contain. Some of the tools will perhaps appear objectionable orworthless to the reader. For my principal goal, namely discussing the potential merits of tandem mind mapping,the actual choice of certain tools is less important.

General strategies:

These are ‘top level‘ heuristic strategies that coordinate the entire process of problem solving.A prominent example are the basic steps in Polya’s ‘How to Solve It‘: 1. understanding the problem - 2. devisinga plan – 3. carrying out the plan – 4. looking back. For each step, several auxiliary questions and other tools aregiven.

General principles:

Examples: Invariance principle - Extremal principle - Induction principle – Pigeonhole Principle - Symmetry

General mathematical tools:

Examples: Characteristic functions - Power series – Graph Theory

General mathematical tactics:

Examples: Defining auxiliary functions – Working backward or forward

Tools for dealing with certain mathematical objects:

The selection of tools referring to certain mathematical objects depends heavily on your area of work.For example, if you are working on probability topics, tools referring to martingales may be fundamental to you.You could arrange any number of results relevant to a given mathematical object. Some restraint should preventyou from piling up loads of irrelevant information.

Analysis tools:

3Examples: Collect seminal ideas about the problem - Identify relevant components of the problem - Collectrelevant questions - Ask iteratively for the reason of things and their respective reasons - Ask iteratively howgoals and subgoals can be reached – Make a drawing of the situation

Creativity tools:

Sometimes A. Koestler‘s idea of bisociation and other classical creativity techniques like brainstormingmight prove useful in mathematics. Other tools are more closely related to mathematics, like recasting theproblem by changing one’s point of view.

Checklists:

For some users checklists may be valuable, e.g. lists of common errors with entries ranging from checks againstdivision by zero to wrongly changing the order of limits.

Information retrieval tools:

Examples: Use math databases like the Mathematical Reviews or the Zentralblatt für Mathematik - Ask anexpert for direct help or for hints to relevant literature - Post a question to relevant internet communities

Review tools:

Examples: What techniques have been used during problem solving? - Which tools worked well or less well, andwhy? - What are the strong points and shortcomings of a result and the process of finding it? - How would X (ateacher or another expert) assess the result and the process of finding it? What are the tools I should add, deleteor adapt?

Tools for dealing with dysfunctional emotions:

If you feel that being frustrated or discouraged doesn’t help you at the moment, you can try some of thefollowing tools: Remember past successes - Imagine having succeeded – Use coping self talk

Metatools:

Metatools support the finding and invention of tools.Examples: What are recurring shortcomings of my problem solving activities, and how can I overcome them? -What are the most successful tools I use? Why do they work so well? How can I use their strong points in otherareas? – What tools have been used in a given article or book that may be useful? – How can I improve my set of heuristic maps?

Miscellaneous tools:

Examples: How would X (a teacher, an expert, or even a famous mathematician fom history) tackle the problem?- Give yourself a break - Do some physical exercise - Postpone the problem

III.3 Organisation of heuristic maps

Simply piling up loads of tools is not enough. The tools must be organized so you can find them when – andwhere - you need them.For example, you can arrange operators by problem phases.

This is Polya’s approach in ‘How to Solve It‘, seethe above remarks on general strategies. In addition, it is often useful to arrange tools according to problemsituations like ‘defining a goal‘, ‘tackling difficulties‘ etc.Moreover, you can use the above operator groups for organizing the tools.

Obviously, it is necessary to use an appropriate number of heuristic maps.You may for example use the following set of maps:- map with general strategy tools, e.g. Polya’s catalogue of questions and additional basic tools,- map containing general mathematical principles and general mathematical tools,- maps with detailed information on mathematical tools,- maps with miscellaneous tools.Some degree of redundancy in these maps is inevitable. Tools often belong to more than one group of operatorsand should be found in several maps.You can use maps that contain only the names of operator groups and arrange the tools in that group in aseparate map.(If you use computer mind maps, you can organize a huge number of operators in a single map, which is muchmore convenient.)