Polya’s Method of

Problem Solving
Polya: “The Father of Problem Solving”

• George Pólya was a Hungarian mathematician and

one of the most remarkable mathematicians of the
20th Century, who made fundamental contributions to
a wide range of topics and to the theory of problem
solving
Pólya explained that to solve problems required the
study of heuristic. The aim of heuristic is to study the
methods and rules of discovery and invention ,
systematically giving opportunity to the student to
discover things by himself.

Reference: http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/history/Biographies/Polya.html
Polya’s Method of Problem Solving
 Polya’s Method of Problem Solving
1. Understand the problem
• DoIcon
you understand all the words used in stating the problem?
• What are you asked to find or show?
• Can you restate the problem in your own words?
• Can you think of a picture or diagram that might help you understand
the problem?
• Is there enough information to enable you to find a solution?

Reference: http://www.math.wichita.edu/history/men/polya.html
 Polya’s Method of Problem Solving
2. Devise a plan.
• Find the connection between the data and the unknown.
• Consider auxiliary problems if an immediate connection
cannot be found.
Obtain a plan of the solution.
• Create a list of strategies .

Reference: http://scimath.unl.edu/conferences/documents/K-2ProblemSolvers.pdf
 Polya’s Method of Problem Solving
3. Carry out the plan.
•Carry out your plan of the solution, check each step.
• Persist with the plan that you have chosen.
• If it continues not to work discard it and choose another.
Don't be misled, this is how mathematics is done, even by
professionals.

Reference: http://scimath.unl.edu/conferences/documents/K-2ProblemSolvers.pdf
 Polya’s Method of Problem Solving
4. Look back.
• Examine the solution obtained.
• Much can be gained by taking the time to reflect and look
back at what you have done, what worked, and what
didn't.
• Doing this will enable you to predict what strategy to use
to solve future problems.
Reference: http://scimath.unl.edu/conferences/documents/K-2ProblemSolvers.pdf
 Polya’s Method of Problem Solving

Examples:
1. Solving a Problem Involving Money
So you’ve graduated from college and you’re ready for that
first real job. In fact you have two offers! One pays an hourly
wage of P220, with a 40-hour work week. You work for 50 weeks
and get 2 weeks paid vacation. The second offer is a salaried
position, offering P480,000 per year. Which job will pay more?

Reference: Math In Our World by Dave Sobecki

Solution:

Step 1: Understand the Problem

The important information is that the hourly job
pays P220/hr for 40hrs/wk, and that you will be paid
for 52 wks/yr. You are asked to decide if that will
work out to be more or less than P480,000/yr.
Step 2: Devise a plan to solve the
problem.
You can use multiplication to figure out how
much you would be paid each week and then
multiply by 52 to get the yearly amount. Then we
can compare to the salaried position.
• Step 3: Carry out the plan.
Multiply the hourly wage by 40 hrs; this
shows that the weekly earnings will be P220 x
40 = P8,800. Now we multiply by 52 weeks:
P8,800 x 52 = P457,600. The salaried position,
at P480,000/yr, pays more.
• Step 4: Check out the answer.
You can figure out the hourly wage of the job that
pays P480,000/yr. You divide by 52 to get a weekly
salary of P9,230.77. Then divide by 40 to get an
hourly wage of P230.77. Again, this job pays more.
Polya’s Method of Problem Solving

2. Solving a Tour Problem

• An agency charged P15,000 for a 3-day and 2-
night tour in Macau and P20,000 for the same
tour with a side trip to Hongkong (HK). Ten
persons joined the trip, which enabled them to
collect P170,000. how many tourists made a
side trip?
• Reference: Mathematics in the Modern World by Ragasa, et.al.
Solution:

Step 1: Understand the Problem

• There are two types of tourists here. 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. We need to know how many were bound for
Macau but who made a side trip to HK.
 Step 2. Devise a plan.

Step 2. Devise a plan.

Use x and y to represent the 2 types of tourists. Define
these variables. The algebraic equations:

P15,000 x = amount collected from the tourists bound

for Macau alone

P20,000 y = amount collected from the tourists bound for

Macau and HK
Step 3. Carry Out the Plan.
Write the equations and solve using the elimination method to the
systems of equations.
Equations:
x + y = 10 (1)
15,000 x + 20,000 y = 170,000 (2)
To find the number of tourists bound for Macau & HK, solve for y.
 To do this, use elimination by substitution.

A. Solve for y in (1)

x + y = 10 y = 10 – x (3)

B. Substitute y = 10 – x in (2)

15,000x + 20,000 (10 – x) = 170,000

– 5,000x = - 30,000

x=6

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

Therefore 4 tourists made a side trip to HK.

Geometry Problem

The length of a rectangle is 2cm more than twice

the width. If the length of the rectangle is
decreased by 2 cm, the perimeter is 24 cm.
Determine the dimensions of the original
rectangle.
Solution:
Given: P = 24cm
x = measure of the width
2x + 2 = measure of the length
x – 2 = new measure of the width
2x + 2 – 3 = new measure of the length
 P = 2l + 2w

24 = 2(2x – 1) + 2(x – 2)

24 = 4x – 2 + 2x – 4

24 = 6x – 6

6x = 30

x = 5 cm (width)

2x + 2 = 2(5) + 2 = 12 cm (length)
Review the solution:
24 = 2(2x – 1) + 2(x – 2)
24 = 2[2(5) – 1] + 2(5 – 2)
24 = 2(9) + 2(3)
24 = 18 + 6
24 = 24
4. Calculating Volumes for Injection

Mr. Tang has been ordered 80mg of Tramadol Hydrochloride

for pain relief. Available stock on the ward is 100mg/2ml. Calculate
the volume to be drawn up for injection.

Solution: 80 (2) = 160 = 1.6 ml

100 100
 5. Work Problems
Hannah can do a certain
job in 10 days. After
working alone for 4 days,
she is joined by Ashley.
Together they finished the
work in 2 more days. How
long would it take Ashley
to do the job alone?
Solution:

r t Part of
the job
Hannah 1/10 6 3/5
Ashley 1/x 2 2/x
 Solution:
3/5 + 2/x = 1

5x [3/5 + 2/x = 1] 5x

3x + 10 = 5x

2x = 6

x = 3 days

Therefore, Hannah can finish the job in 3 days only.

Resources:
• https://fyimaths.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/larkins.pptx

• https://www.slideshare.net/mrjdfield/polya-problem-solving-cycle
• https://www.google.com/search?q=creativecommons.org+picture+og+polya%27s
+method+in+problem+solving&client=firefox-
b&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiV1K3tqrnaAhUDbrwKHRUgC5
cQ_AUICigB&biw=1280&bih=686#imgrc=aqv3BsBuxEiYiM

• https://www.google.com/search?q=creativecommons.org+picture+og+polya%27s
+method+in+problem+solving&client=firefox-
b&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiV1K3tqrnaAhUDbrwKHRUgC5
cQ_AUICigB&biw=1280&bih=686#imgrc=15hP1tP_TkkE-M

• https://math.berkeley.edu/~gmelvin/polya.pdf
 Resources:
• https:www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9

• https://www.slideshare.net/mrjdfield/polya=solvinf-problem-cycle

• https://manila.ceu.edu.ph/scorpions-bags-ucbl-debut-title
• https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b&biw=1280&bih=686&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=P-
fRWovDC9Ps0ASq5pCwDA&q=creativecommons.org+picture+of+tourists+in+Macau+and+Hongkong&oq=creati
vecommons.org+picture+of+tourists+in+Macau+and+Hongkong&gs_l=psy-
ab.3...35882.40960.0.41224.22.22.0.0.0.0.226.2518.1j20j1.22.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-
ab..0.0.0....0.qvO3UxLHBj4#imgrc=c8bTXzsEhrccKM:

• https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-
b&biw=1280&bih=686&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=Og_SWqDpNYW30gTf9Ko4&q=creativecommons.org+picture+of+fili
pino+student+taking+a+test&oq=creativecommons.org+picture+of+filipino+student+taking+a+test&gs_l=psy-
ab.3...96082.98580.0.99506.9.9.0.0.0.0.122.946.3j6.9.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-
ab..0.0.0....0.5ApAYTNUAUg#imgrc=Coxz7UhC8LXAlM:

• https://unsplash.com/photos/9GSI4hL2nT8
Polya’s method of Problem Solving

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