Polya’s Problem-Solving Strategy

One of the recent mathematicians who outlined a strategy for solving problems
from virtually any discipline is George Polya (1887-1985). In his book, How To Solve It,
he writes,

“A great discovery solves a great problem but there is a grain of discovery in the solution of any
problem. Your problem may be modest; but if it challenges your curiosity and brings into play your
initiative faculties, and if you solve it by your own means, you may experience the tension and enjoy
the triumph of discovery.”

Because of his ideas, he is considered the father of problem-solving among mathematicians. The
following four-step strategy is named after him:

Polya’s Four-Step Problem-Solving Strategy

Understand the Problem

This part of problem-solving is sometimes, if not always, neglected. In order to solve a problem,
you must first know what is being asked, and what information or data can be extracted from what is
given. Furthermore, you must see to it that you can state the problem in your own words.

Devise a Plan
In this step, you must think of strategies to solve the problem. Some of your strategies include
organizing the given information using a list, table or chart; drawing a diagram,; working out the problems
backwards; looking for a pattern; trying to solve a similar but simpler problem; writing an equation; or
simply guessing at a possible solution and then later checking if the result is valid.

Carry Out the Plan

Carry out a plan to solve the problem is basically implementing the strategy chosen in the second
step until the problem is solved or until a new course of action is suggested. You may get ideas from others
in deciding the best strategy to make sure that the best solution is employed.
 Review the Solution
Questions like “Is your answer reasonable?” is important in checking the veracity of the answer
to the problem. For example, if you are looking for the dimensions of a rectangular box of least cost and
your answer yields a negative length or result, you automatically say that there must be something wrong
with your solution because there is no such box with negative dimensions.

Example 10: Apply Polya’s Strategy (Solve a similar but simpler problem)
Consider the map as shown in the figure below. Allison wishes to walk along the streets from point
A to point B. how many direct routes can Allison take?

Solution:
Understand the Problem We would not be able to answer the question if Allison retraced her path or
traveled away from point B. Thus, we assume that on a direct route, she always travels along a street in a
direction that gets her closer to point B.

Devise a Plan The map in the preceding figure has many details. Thus we make a diagram that allows us
to concentrate on the essential information. See the figure below.

B
A simple diagram of the street map in the figure above.
 Because there are many routes, we consider the similar but simpler diagrams shown below. The
number of each street intersection represents the number of routes from point A to that particular
intersection.

Look for patterns. It appears that the number of routes to an intersection is the sum of the number of
routes to the adjacent intersection to its left and the number of routes to the intersection directly above.
For instance, the number of routes to the intersection labeled 6 is the sum of the number of routes to the
intersection to its left, which is 3, and the number of routes to the intersection directly above, which is
also 3.

Carry Out the Plan Using the pattern discovered above, we see from the figure below that the number
of routes from point A to point B is 35.

A
1 1 1 1
1 3
2 4 5
1 6 10
3 15
B
1 4 10 20 35
Review the Solution Ask yourself whether a result of 35 seems reasonable. If you were required to draw
each route, could you devise a scheme that would enable you to draw each route without missing a route
or duplicating a route?

Example 11: Apply Polya’s Strategy (Make an organized list)

The Magnolia Hotshots basketball team in the PBA won three out of their last six games. In how
many different orders could they have attained three wins and three losses in six games?

Solution:
Understand the Problem. There are many different ways Magnolia Hotshots may have won three straight
wins and three losses (WWWLLL), or maybe lost in the first three games and won in the last three games
(LLLWWW). Likewise, there are other several orders.

Devise a Plan. One can organize a list of all the possibilities making sure that no entry will be duplicated.
Carry Out the Plan. Three Ws must be present in every entry without duplication. The strategy is to start
the list with three consecutive wins. Next in the list are all the entries starting with two consecutive wins,
then next in the list are all entries starting with a single win. Following this pattern, consider starting with
three consecutive losses and so on. Here are the different orders.
1. WWWLLL 7. WLWWLL 13. LWWWLL
2. WWLWLL 8. WLWLWL 14. LWWLLW
3. WWLLWL 9. LLLWWW 15. LWLLWW
4. WWLLLW 10. LLWLWW 16. LWLWLW
5. WLLLWW 11. LLWWLW
6. WLLWWL 12. LLWWWL
Review the Solution. The list is organized and has no duplicates, so there are sixteen (16) different
orders in which a basketball team can win exactly three out of six games.

Example 12: Apply Polya’s Strategy (Computing the height of a person)

Leonardo da Vinci was a famous artist during the renaissance period. He wrote in his notebook
that “from the top to the bottom of the chin is the sixth part of the face, and it is the fifty-fourth part of
the man.” Suppose the distance from the top to the bottom of the chin of the person is 1.2 inches. Using
Leonardo da Vinci’s measurements, find the height of the person.

Solution:
Understand the problem. Obviously, you need to find the height of the person in this problem.

Devise a Plan. Let x represent the unknown height of the person. Write an equation satisfying da Vinci’s
measurements.

Carry Out the Plan.

Let x = height of the person
Equation
1
𝑥 = 1.2
54

𝑥 = 64.8 inches or 5.4 feet

Thus, the person is 5.4 feet tall

Review the solution. The solution is quite simple. Now check your progress-follow Leonardo da Vinci’s
measurements to find your best friend’s height.

Example 13: Apply Polya’s Strategy (Solving a tour problem)

An agency charged ₱15,000 for a 3-day and 2-night tour in Macau and ₱20,000 for the same tour
with a side trip to Hong Kong (HK). Ten persons joined the trip, which enable them to collect ₱170,000.
How many tourists made a side trip to Hong Kong?
Solution:
Understand the Problem. There are two types of tourists in the situation given. Some purely stayed in
Macau while others made a side trip to HK. From the total collection, how much was the amount collected
from those who purely stayed in Macau and how much was collected from those who made side trips to
HK. It is needed to know how many were bound for Macau who made a side trip to HK.

Devise a Plan. Use 𝑥 and 𝑦 to represent the two types of tourists. Define these variables. Let 𝑥 be the
number of tourists bound for Macau alone and 𝑦 be the number of tourists bound for Macau but who
made a side trip to Hong Kong. Hence, we have the following algebraic equations:

₱15,000𝑥 = amount collected from the tourists bound for Macau alone

₱20,000𝑦 = amount collected from the tourists bound for Macau but who made a side trip to Hong Kong

Carry Out the Plan. Write the equations and solve using the elimination method to the system of
equations.
Equations:
𝑥 + 𝑦 = 10 -------------------------- equation (1)
15,000𝑥 + 20,000𝑦 = 170,000 ------------ equation (2)

To find the number of tourists bound for Macau but who made side trip to HK, we solve for 𝑦.

To do this, we use elimination by substitution.

a. Solve for 𝑦 in equation 1
𝑥 + 𝑦 = 10
𝑦 = 10 − 𝑥

b. Substitute 𝑦 = 10 − 𝑥 in equation (2)

15,000𝑥 + 20,000(10 − 𝑥) = 170,000

15,000𝑥 + 200,000 − 20,000𝑥 = 170,000
−5,000𝑥 = 170,000 − 200,000
−5,000𝑥 = −30,000
−30,000
𝑥=
−5,000
𝑥=6

Substituting 𝑥 = 6 in equation (3), 𝑦 = 4.

Therefore, four tourists made a side trip to Hong Kong.

Review the Solution. Since there are total of 10 tourists, six of them only stayed in Macau while four
made a side trip to Hong Kong. Now, 15,000(6) + 20,000(4) = 170,000. This satisfies the condition that
the total amount collected for the whole trip is ₱170,000.