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Problem solving

and
reasoning

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A problem is a statement requiring
solution, usually by means of
mathematical operation/geometric
design.

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*The word method means the ways or techniques used to get
answer which will, usually involve one or more problem
solving strategies
*Answer means a number quantity or some other entity that
the problem is asking for
*Solution is the whole process of solving the problem
including the method of obtaining the answer and the answer
itself
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Logic – The science of correct reasoning.

Reasoning – The drawing of inferences or


conclusions from known or assumed facts.

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Inductive Reasoning Deductive Reasoning
-is drawing a general -is drawing general case
conclusion from a to specific examples or
repeated observation or simplify from general
limited sets of case to specific case.
observation of specific
examples.

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Inductive reasoning
Example 1: Use inductive reasoning to predict
the next number.

1. 3, 6, 9, 12, 15,
2. 1, 3, 6, 10, 15,

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Inductive reasoning
Example 2: Use inductive reasoning to make a conjecture.
Pick a number. Multiply the number by 8, add 6 to the
product, divide the sum by 2, then subtract 3.

If the original number picked is 4.


Original number : 4
Multiply by 8 : 4 x 8 = 32
Add 6 to the product : 32 + 6 =38
Divide the sum by 2 : 38 ÷ 2 = 19
Subtract 3 : 19 – 3 = 16
* The answer is 4 times the original number
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Inductive reasoning

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Inductive reasoning

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Counter examples
A statement is true statement provided that is
true in all cases. If you find one case for
which statement is not true, called a counter
example , then the statement is a false
statement.

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Examples 1
• Every number that is multiple of 10 is
divisible by 4.

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Examples 2
For all numbers x:
• │x │˃ 0

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Examples 3
For all numbers x:
• x2 ˃ x

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Examples 4
For all numbers x:
• ˃ x

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Inductive Reasoning Deductive Reasoning
-is drawing a general -is drawing general case
conclusion from a to specific examples or
repeated observation or simplify from general
limited sets of case to specific case.
observation of specific
examples.

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Deductive reasoning
 Is the process of reaching a conclusion by
applying general; assumptions, procedures,
of principles.

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Examples 1
If a number is divisible by 2, then it must be
even.

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Examples 1
If an ∠A and ∠B are supplementary angles,
their sum is 180 degrees.

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Deductive reasoning
Example 1: Use deductive reasoning to make a conjecture, that the
following produces a number that is four times the original number.
Pick a number. Multiply the number by 8, add 6 to the product, divide the
sum by 2, then subtract 3.
If the original number picked is 4.
Original number : n
Multiply by 8 : 8n
Add 6 to the product : 8n + 6
Divide the sum by 2 : (8n + 6) ÷ 2 = 4n + 3
Subtract 3 : 4n + 3 – 3 = 4n

* The answer is 4 times the original number.


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Examples 1
Solve for x in the equation 3(x+4)-2x = 20. justify
your answer.

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Examples 1
Solve for x in the equation 3(x+4)-2x = 20. justify your
answer.
Statement Reasons
3(x + 4) – 2x = 20 Given

3x + 12 - 2x = 20 Distributive property

3x – 2x + 12 = 20 Commutative property

x + 12 = 20 Closure property

x = 20 - 12 Transposition

x=8 Closure property


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Solving a logic puzzle
Logic puzzles can be solved using deductive
reasoning and a chart that enables to
display information.

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Example: Each of four neighbors, Aster, Anji, Agnes, and
Anna, has a different occupations (writer, teacher, chef,
or doctor). From the following clues, determine the
occupation of each neighbors.

1. Anji gets home from work after the teacher but before the
doctor.
2. Agnes who last to go home from work, is not a writer.
3. The doctor and Agnes leave for work at the same time.
4. The teacher lives next door to Anna.

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MATCH STUDENTS WITH THEIR MAJOR: Michael, Clarissa,
Reggie, and Ellen are attending Iloilo State University of Science
and Technology. One student is a computer science major, one is
chemistry major, one is a business major, and one is biology major.
From the following clues, determine which major each student is
pursuing.
a. Michael and the computer science major are next-door neighbors.
b. Clarissa and the chemistry major have attended ISUST for 2 years.
Reggie has attended ISUST for 3 years, and the biology major has
attended ISUST for 4 years.
c. Ellen has attended ISUST for fewer years than Michael.
d. The business major has attended ISUST for 2 years.

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Polya’s problem solving
strategies

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“The Father of Problem Solving”
• George Pólya was a
Hungarian mathematician.

• He made fundamental
contributions to combinatorics,
number theory, numerical analysis and
probability theory. He is also noted for his
work in heuristics and mathematics
education.
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Polya's Problem Solving Techniques
• In 1945 George Polya published the book How
To Solve It which quickly became his most
prized publication.
• It sold over one million copies and has been
translated into 17 languages.
• In this book he identifies four basic principles of
problem solving.

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Polya’s Four-step process of problem
solving
Step 1. Understand the Problem

Step 2. Device a Plan

Step 3. Carry Out the Plan

Step 4. Look Backward


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Step 1. Understand the Problem
• Do 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?
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Step 2. device a plan
• There are many reasonable ways to solve
problems.
• The skill lies in choosing an appropriate strategy.
• This best learned by solving many problems.
You will find choosing a strategy increasingly
easy.

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Step 3. carry out the plan
• This step is usually easier than devising the plan.
In general, all you need is care and patience,
given that you have the necessary skills.
• 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.

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Step 4. look backward
• 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.

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Guess and check
Observe a pattern in the first diagram. Following the same pattern,
complete the second diagram

8 16
2 6 10

14 12 18 5

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Fill in the boxes with numbers 1-16, wherein the sum of
diagonal, horizontal and vertical boxes is 34

8 11 14 1

13 2 7 12

3 16 9 6

10 5 4 15

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Make an orderly list
There are 8 people in a party. If everyone at
the party shakes hands with everyone else,
how many handshakes would there be?

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A B C D E F G H
A
B ab
C ac bc
D ad bd cd
E ae be ce de
F af bf cf df ef
G ag bg cg dg eg fg
H ah bh ch dh eh fh gh

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How many different total score could you
make if you hit the dart board shown with
3 darts?
10
5
1

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Draw a diagram
Everyday a postman walks from office to
specific destination to deliver mail. Today
he walked 2 miles west, then 1 mile south,
then 3 miles east and 2 miles north, then 1
mile west. How far is the postman from
office?
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In how many days will it take a slug to get
out of the 12-feet deep well if each day it
climbs up 3 feet and each night it slips
back 2 feet.

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Eliminate possibilities
Three persons, Jhade, Mia, and Ameerah are friends.
Their surnames are Javier, Castillo and Soza, but
not necessarily in that order. Jhade lives in a red
house, Ameerah lives in the yellow house, and
Miss Javier lives in a blue house, and Miss Soza
does not live in a red house. What are the full
names of each person?
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Work backwards
By 7 PM all the party guests had arrived but by 8 PM a third
of them hade departed. By 9 PM a third of those
remaining had also departed. By 10 PM the same
happened again and third of those remaining had also
departed. Finally, the party ended at 11 PM by which time
further third of those remaining had also departed and by
11 PM only 16 guests still remained. How many guests
were originally at the party at 7 PM?

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A bus was three stops away from the bus terminal. At the first bus stop, 5
passengers got on and 3 passengers got off. At the second bus stop, 4
passengers got on and 8 passengers got off. At the third bus stop, 2 passengers
got on and 12 passengers got off. When the bus arrived at the terminal, all 75
passengers got off. How many passengers were on the bus just before it
arrived at the first bus stop?

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100 WERE INTERVIEWED

28 took PE
31 took BIO
42 took ENG
9 took PE and BIO
10 took PE and ENG
6 took BIO and ENG
4 took all three subjects

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EQUATION

Two times the sum of a number and 3


is equal to thrice the number plus 4.
Find the number.

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If the length of the top of a rectangle is 15
inches more than its width and the area is
1,350 square inches, find the dimension of
the table.

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Use Polya’s four step problem-
solving strategy to solve each of the
following exercises.

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Two melons weigh the same as a bunch of
bananas. A bunch of bananas weighs the
same as nine apples. How many apples
weigh the same as one melon?

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If the hypotenuse of a right triangle measures
10 meters, and one leg is 2 meters more
than the other. Find the length of the legs.

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Find two consecutive positive integers
whose product is 240.

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Everyday a Claire walks from home to
specific destination. Today she walked 3
miles west, then 2 mile south, then 5 miles
east and 3 miles north, then 1 mile south.
How far is Claire from home??

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