Polya’s Solving Strategy

MIDTERM
George Polya, Known as the father of modern problem
solving. One of the foremost recent mathematicians to
make a study of problem solving (1877 -1985)
 Polya’s Four Step Problem Solving Strategy

• Understand the Problem

• Devise a plan
• Carry out the plan
• Review the solution
Understand the Problem
Devise a Plan
Carry out the Plan
Review the solution
 Example 1:
A math class has 30 students. Approximately 70% passed their last math test.
How many students passed the last math test?

Understand the problem.

The problem is asking us how many students passed the last math test?
This means let x is the number of students.

x = number of students
 Example 1:
A math class has 30 students. Approximately 70% passed their last math test.
How many students passed the last math test?

Devise a plan.
Let us produce an equation.
Since x = number of students, then a number that is 70% of 30.

x = 0.7(30)
 Example 1:
A math class has 30 students. Approximately 70% passed their last math test.
How many students passed the last math test?

Cary out the plan.

Our plan is to solve for x.

x = 0.7(30)
x = 21
Example 1:
A math class has 30 students. Approximately 70% passed their last math test.
How many students passed the last math test?

Review the solution.

21 is 70% of 30

Therefore, 21 students who passed the last math test out of 30 students.
 Example 2:
Each shapes represent numbers. Find the missing number to solve the last
equation.

Understand the problem.

The problem is asking us to find the missing number to solve the last equation.
Each shapes represent numbers

Let T = Triangle; C = Circle; and S = square;

Example 2:
Each shapes represent numbers. Find the missing number to solve the last
equation

Devise a plan.
Let us produce an equation.

1ST eqn. 3T = 30
2nd eqn. T+2C=18
3rd eqn. C-S=2
4th eqn. T+C+S=?
 Example 2:
Each shapes represent numbers. Find the missing number to solve the last
equation

Cary out the plan.

Our plan is to find the value for each shapes, then solve the last equation.

Solve for T: Solve for C: Solve for S: Solve for last eqn.:
3T = 30 T+2C=18 C-S=2 T+C+S=?
10+2C=18 4-S=2 10+4+2= 16
T= 10
C=4 S=2
 Example 2:
Each shapes represent numbers. Find the missing number to solve the last
equation

Review the solution.

Let us check.

10+10+10 = 30
10+4+4=18
4-2=2
10+4+2=16

Therefore, the missing number is 16.

 Example 3:
There are 480 marbles in a box whose color is either black or white. If there are 46
more black marbles than there are white, how many black marbles are there in
box? How many white marbles are there in the box?

Understand the problem.

The problem is asking us how many black marbles and how many white marbles
are there in the box.
All in all there are 480 marbles.
There are 46 more black marbles than there are white.
This means if x is the quantity of black marbles and y the quantity of white
marbles.
x > y and x + y = 480

In particular, x = 46 + y
 Example 3:
There are 480 marbles in a box whose color is either black or white. If there are 46
more black marbles than there are white, how many black marbles are there in
box? How many white marbles are there in the box?

Devise a plan.
Let us produce an equation. Since x + y = 480 and x = 46 + y, by substitution this
implies,

(46 + y)+ y = 480

46 + 2y = 480
 Example 3:
There are 480 marbles in a box whose color is either black or white. If there are 46
more black marbles than there are white, how many black marbles are there in
box? How many white marbles are there in the box?

Cary out the plan.

Our plan is to solve the equation for y and x.
Solve for y: Solve for x:
46 + 2y = x = 46 + y
480 y = 217 x = 46 + 217
x = 263

There are 217 white marbles. There are 263 black marbles.
 Example 3:
There are 480 marbles in a box whose color is either black or white. If there are 46
more black marbles than there are white, how many black marbles are there in
box? How many white marbles are there in the box?

Review the solution.

Let us check.
x + y = 480 x = 46 + y
263 + 217 = 480 263 = 46 + 217

Therefore, we found out that there are 217 white marbles and there are
263 black marbles in the box.
 Example 4:
Mr. Jones has a total of 25 chickens and cows on his farm. How many of each does
he have if all together there are 76 feet?

Understand the problem.

We are trying to determine how many cows and how many chickens Mr.
Jones has on his farm.
We are given in the problem that there are 25 chickens and cows.
All together there are 76 feet.
Chickens have 2 feet and cows have 4 feet.
Example 4:
Mr. Jones has a total of 25 chickens and cows on his farm. How many of each does
he have if all together there are 76 feet?

Devise a plan.
Let us going to use Guess and test along with making a tab.
Make a table and look for a pattern:
Chicken Cows Number of Number of cow Total Number of
chicken feet feet Feet
Example 4:
Mr. Jones has a total of 25 chickens and cows on his farm. How many of each does
he have if all together there are 76 feet?

Cary out the plan.

Chicken Cows Number of chicken Number of cow Total Number of
feet feet Feet

20 5 40 20 60

21 4 42 16 58

19 6 38 24 62

15 10 30 40 70

12 13 24 52 76
Example 4:
Mr. Jones has a total of 25 chickens and cows on his farm. How many of each does
he have if all together there are 76 feet?

Review the solution.

Let us check :

12 + 13 = 25 heads
24 + 52 = 76 feet.

Therefore, we found out that there are 12 chickens and there are 13 cows,
so all together there are 76 feet.
Quiz:
Each symbol(shapes) in the grid below represents a numerical value. We know
the sum of symbols for the first, second, and bottom rows and the leftmost and
rightmost columns. Find the missing numbers. (use Polya’s Strategy)