Problem Solving

Strategies
By: Marco Ray M. Ruanto
 Working Backwards
When a number is multiplied by 15, then the result is added by 15 the answer is
240. What is the number?
Solution:
By applying working backwards we will perform the operation inversely
240 – 15 = 225
225/15 = 15
Thus 15 is the number
 Looking a Pattern
What is the ones digit of 3100 ?
Solution:
31 = 3
32 = 9
33 = 27
34 = 81
35 = 243
36 = 729
By looking at the pattern of the last digits of the powers of 3, 9, 7, 1, 3, 9, 7,…. The pattern keeps on repeating by every power
of 4.
Since 100 is divisible by 4, then the last digit is 1
 Adopting a Different Point of View
What is the greatest value for
𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏𝑐 + 𝑐𝑑 + 𝑎𝑑
if a, b c, and d will have the values 1, 2, 3 and 4 but not necessary in that
order?
 Adopting a Different Point of View
Solution:
The usual way of solving this one is applying the guess and check method. To
efficiently do the guess and check method we can factor 𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏𝑐 + 𝑐𝑑 + 𝑎𝑑
𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏𝑐 + 𝑐𝑑 + 𝑎𝑑 = 𝑎 + 𝑐 𝑏 + 𝑎 + 𝑐 𝑑 = 𝑎 + 𝑐 𝑏 + 𝑑
Now we can perform the guess and check solution. This leads us to
1 + 4 2 + 3 = 25
25 is the greatest value
 Solving a Simple Analogous Problem
What is the difference when the sum of the first 100 odd natural numbers is
subtracted from the first 100 even natural numbers?
Instead of looking the sum of first even and first odd integer, we will try to
subtract them first then add.
2 − 1 + 4 − 3 + 6 − 5 + ⋯ + 200 − 199
= 1 100
= 100
 Considering Extreme Cases
We have two one-Liter bottles.
One contains a half-liter of grape juice and the other, a Half-liter of apple juice.
We take a tablespoonful of grape juice and pour it into the apple juice.
Then we take a tablespoon of this new mixture (apple juice and grape juice)
and pour it into the bottle of grape juice.
Is there more grape juice in the apple juice bottle, or more apple juice in the
grape juice bottle?
 Considering Extreme Cases
Solution:
To do this, we will consider the tablespoonful quantity to be a bit larger. We will use an extremely
large quantity.
Let this quantity be the entire one-liter of the grape juice and pour it into the apple juice bottle.
This mixture is now 50% apple juice and 50% grape juice.
Then pour one-liter of this mixture back into the grape juice bottle
The mixture is now the same bottles.
Therefore, there is as much apple juice in the grape juice bottle, as there is grape juice in the
apple juice bottle!
 Making a Drawing
• If one number is three times the other number and their sum is 28, what are the two
numbers?
Let
be the first number
second number
4 units = 28
1 unit = 7
3 units = 21
Thus, the numbers are 21 and 7.
 Intelligent Guessing and Testing
• Mang Tomas owns goats and ducks. Counting heads, there are 39. Counting legs, there are 110. How many
goats and how many ducks Mang Tomas has?
Solution:
Guess 1: 20 goats and 19 ducks
20 (4) + 19 (2) = 80 +38 = 118
Guess 2: 15 goats and 24 ducks
15 (4) + 24(2) = 60 + 48 = 108
Guess 3: 16 goats and 23 ducks
16 (4) + 23 (2) = 64+46 = 110
Therefore, Mang Tomas owns 16 goats and 23 ducks
 Accounting All Possibilities
A digit is inserted between the digits of a two-digit perfect square number, to
form another perfect square. Find the three-digit squares formed in this way.
Solution:
Let us list some two digit perfect squares
2 digit perfect squares: 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 72 and 81
The only possible number is 225 by inserting 2 between 2 and 5
 Organizing Data
• The new jeans store at 64 Fifth Avenue is giving prizes to the first 64 people
who are in line when they open at 9:30 a.m. At 8:05, there were 8 people in
line. At 8:10, there were 16 people in line. At 8:15, there were 24 people in
line. If this pattern continues, at what time will there be 64 people in line?
We will try to solve this using the tabular method
 Organizing Data
Time Number of people in line
8:05 8
8:10 16
8:15 24
8:20 32
8:25 40
8:30 48
8:35 56
8:40 64
By 8:40 AM, there will be 64 people in line.
 Logical Reasoning
• How can two fathers and two sons divide nine P 100 – bills evenly among
them? Each must receive an equal number of P 100 – bills.
Solution:
Grand father: 3 P 100 = P 300
Father: 3 P 100 = P 300
Son: 3 P 100 = P 300
 Use of Equation
• The sum of two numbers is 177. If the second number is 3 less than the first number, then
what are the numbers
Let x be the first number and x – 3 be the second
𝑥 + 𝑥 − 3 = 177
2𝑥 − 3 = 177
2𝑥 = 180
𝑥 = 90
𝑥 − 3 = 87
Thus, the two numbers are 90 and 87.