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I. Introduction
In this paper I will describe how the well-known mind mapping technique can be used to solve mathematical
problems.
Part II contains, mostly for the sake of completeness, a brief introduction to mind mapping. It can be skipped by
anyone 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.
These easy instructions are the core of the mind mapping technique.
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It can be used almost everywhere and can be adapted to practically all purposes - from writing a diary to
planning a birthday party and from taking notes during a lecture to solving mathematical problems.
Moreover, it is easy and pleasant to use.
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.1 Terminology
The principal mind map in which you examine the given problem will be called basic map. The additional mind
maps 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.
Here comes a list of operators that may be useful in mathematical problem solving. The list is in no way
exhaustive. 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 give
some impression of what heuristic maps may contain. Some of the tools will perhaps appear objectionable or
worthless 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. devising
a plan – 3. carrying out the plan – 4. looking back. For each step, several auxiliary questions and other tools are
given.
General principles:
Examples: Invariance principle - Extremal principle - Induction principle – Pigeonhole Principle - Symmetry
Analysis tools:
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Examples: Collect seminal ideas about the problem - Identify relevant components of the problem - Collect
relevant questions - Ask iteratively for the reason of things and their respective reasons - Ask iteratively how
goals 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 brainstorming
might prove useful in mathematics. Other tools are more closely related to mathematics, like recasting the
problem 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 against
division by zero to wrongly changing the order of limits.
Review tools:
Examples: What techniques have been used during problem solving? - Which tools worked well or less well, and
why? - What are the strong points and shortcomings of a result and the process of finding it? - How would X (a
teacher or another expert) assess the result and the process of finding it? What are the tools I should add, delete
or adapt?
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 other
areas? – 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
Simply piling up loads of tools is not enough. The tools must be organized so you can find them when – and
where - you need them.
For example, you can arrange operators by problem phases. This is Polya’s approach in ‘How to Solve It‘, see
the above remarks on general strategies. In addition, it is often useful to arrange tools according to problem
situations like ‘defining a goal‘, ‘tackling difficulties‘ etc.
Moreover, you can use the above operator groups for organizing the tools.
Some degree of redundancy in these maps is inevitable. Tools often belong to more than one group of operators
and 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 a
separate map.
(If you use computer mind maps, you can organize a huge number of operators in a single map, which is much
more convenient.)
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III.4 Example
The following excerpt from a heuristic map is again based on Polya’s ‘How to Solve It‘.
Examine data.
Possible to satisfy?
Sufficient?
Examine Insufficient?
conditions. Contradictory?
understanding
the problem Redundant?
Separate
various parts.
Draw a figure.
Introduce
suitable notation.
Evident?
Other tools Look at special
Possible Examine
results. cases.
to simplify?
Explain it to yourself
Try to
or someone else.
generalize.
Examine
arguments. Use methods.
Alternatives?
looking back Use related
Use result elsewhere. problems. Use results.
Derive
Modify
information.
the data.
Use
different data.
Data?
All information used?
Conditions?
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IV. Discussion
Here comes a list of benefits of the tandem mind mapping concept.
Large toolbox:
The heuristic maps contain large numbers of tools. They remind you of tools you might otherwise have
overlooked. This is especially valuable for problem solvers who are not yet familiar with some tools.
Flexibility:
You can develop the heuristic maps that are appropriate to your degree of expertise, to the problem type you deal
with and to your personal likes and dislikes.
Knowledge transfer:
By sharing and explaining their heuristic maps, experts can help novices to acquire a working knowledge on how
to solve mathematical problems.
V. Literature
De Bono, Edward: de Bonos neue Denkschule. Mvg Verlag, Landsberg 2002
Buzan, Tony: The Mind Map Book. BBC Books, London 1995
Buzan, Tony: Business Mind Mapping. Ueberreuter, Frankfurt 1999
Dörner, Dietrich: Problemlösen als Informationsverarbeitung. Kohlhammer, Stuttgart 1987
Dörner, Dietrich: Die Logik des Misslingens. Rowohlt, Reinbek 1989
Dörner, Dietrich: Bauplan für eine Seele. Rowohlt, Reinbek 1998
Engel, Arthur: Problem-Solving Strategies. Springer, New York 1998
Funke, Joachim: Problemlösendes Denken. Kohlhammer, Stuttgart 2003
Higgins, James M.: 101 Creative Problem Solving Techniques. The New Management Publish Company,
Winter Park 1994
Hoenig, Christopher: The Problem Solving Journey. Perseus Publishing 2000
Jones, Morgan D.: 14 Powerful Techniques for Problem Solving. Three Rivers Press, New York 1998
Mason, John: Hexeneinmaleins. Oldenbourg, München 1985
Michalko, Michael: Cracking Creativity. Ten Speed Press, Berkeley 2001
Nelson-Jones, Richard: Using Your Mind. Cassell, London 1997
North, Klaus: Wissensorientierte Unternehmensführung. Gabler, Wiesbaden 2002
Von der Oelsnitz, Dietrich; Hahmann, Martin: Wissensmanagement. Kohlhammer, Stuttgart 2003
Polya, George: How to Solve it. Princeton 1957
Pricken, Mario: Kribbeln im Kopf. Schmidt, Mainz 2001
Robertson, S. Ian: Problem Solving. Psychology Press 2001
Sell, Robert; Schimweg, Ralf: Probleme lösen. Springer, Berlin 2002
Zeitz: The Art and Craft of Problem Solving. Wiley, New York 1999
Final note: The term Mind Mapping is a registered trademark of Buzan Centres Ltd.
I do not have any commercial interests with this paper, and I hope I do not violate any naming restrictions in
using the term.
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Email: thomasteepe@web.de