1-1 A Plan for Problem Solving

Main IDEA
Solve problems by using Suppose you are designing rectangular gardens that are bordered by
the four-step plan. white tiles. The three smallest gardens you can design are shown
below.
Standard 7MR1.1
Analyze problems
by identifying
relationships, distinguishing
relevant from irrelevant Garden 1 Garden 2 Garden 3
information, identifying
missing information, 1. How many white tiles does it take to border each of these three
sequencing and prioritizing
information, and observing gardens?
patterns.
2. Predict how many white tiles it will take to border the next-longest
Reinforcement of Standard
6AF2.3 Solve problems garden. Check your answer by modeling the garden.
involving rates, average
speed, distance, and time. 3. How many white tiles will it take to border a garden that is 6 tiles
long? Explain your reasoning.

Some problems, like the one above, can be solved by using one or more
problem-solving strategies.
No matter which strategy you use, you can always use the four-step
plan to solve a problem.

1. Explore • Determine what information is given in the problem and

NEW Vocabulary what you need to find.

conjecture
• Do you have all the information you need?
• Is there too much information?

2. Plan • Visualize the problem and select a strategy for solving it.
There may be several strategies that you can use.
• Estimate what you think the answer should be.
• Make an educated guess or a conjecture.

3. Solve • Solve the problem by carrying out your plan.

• If your plan doesn’t work, try another.
Problem-Solving
Strategies 4. Check • Examine your answer carefully.
• Make a model.
• Solve a simpler • See if your answer fits the facts given in the problem.
problem.
• Make an organized
• Compare your answer to your estimate.
list. • You may also want to check your answer by solving the
• Make a table.
• Find a pattern. problem again in a different way.
• Work backward.
• Draw a graph.
• If the answer is not reasonable, make a new plan and
• Guess and check. start again.

24 Chapter 1 Algebra: Integers