MATH 1013

Mathematics in the Modern World

Week 10
PROBLEM SOLVING
STRATEGIES
 LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

1. Use four steps of Polya in problem solving;
2. Apply the different problem solving strategies in solving real life
problems.
The FARMER’S DILEMMA
A farmer needs to carry a dog, a chicken,
and a basket of corn across a river. The
farmer has a small boat that will only
carry him (farmer) and one of the animals
or the farmer and the corn. The farmer
cannot leave the dog alone with the
chicken because the dog will eat the
chicken. The farmer cannot leave the
chicken alone with the corn because the
chicken will eat the corn. How can the
farmer get across the river with the
animals and the corn?
The FARMER’S DILEMMA

On the first trip, the farmer takes the

chicken across the river. The farmer
returns alone.
The farmer takes the dog across the river
and returns with the chicken.
The farmer takes the corn across the river
and returns alone.
On the final trip, the farmer takes the
chicken across the river.
PROBLEM SOLVING STRATEGIES

One of the foremost recent

mathematicians to make a study of
problem solving was George Polya
(1877-1985). He was born in Hungary
and moved to the United States in 1940.
the basic problem-solving strategy that
Polya advocated consisted of the
following four steps.
INTRODUCTION

Polya’s Four-Step
Problem-Solving
Strategy

1. Understand the
problem.
2. Devise a plan.
3. Carry out the plan.
4. Review the solution
Polya’s Four-Step Problem-Solving Strategy
Understand the Problem
You must have a clear understanding of the problem. To help us in
understanding the problem we must consider to follow the following
questions.
1. Can you restate the problem in your own words?
2. Can you determine what is known about these types of problems?
3. Are there missing information, if known, would you allow to solve
the problem?
4. Is there extraneous information that is not needed to solve the
problem?
5. What is the goal?
Polya’s Four-Step Problem-Solving Strategy

Devise a Plan
Successful problem solvers use a variety of techniques when
they attempt to solve problem.
1. Make a list of known information.
2. Make a list of information that is needed.
3. Draw a diagram.
4. Make an organized list that allows the possibilities.
5. Make a table or chart.
6. Work backwards.
Polya’s Four-Step Problem-Solving Strategy
Devise a Plan
7. Try to solve similar but simpler problems.
8. Look for a pattern.
9. Write an equation. If necessary, define what each
problem represent.
10. Perform an experiment
11. Guess a solution and then check your result.
12. Use indirect reasoning.
Polya’s Four-Step Problem-Solving Strategy

Carry Out the Plan

1. Work carefully.
2. Keep an accurate and neat record of all your attempts.
3. Realize that some of your initial plans will not work and
that you may have to devise another plan or modify your
existing plan.
Polya’s Four-Step Problem-Solving Strategy

Review the Solution

1. Ensure that the solution is consistent with the facts of the
problem.
2. Interpret the solution in the context of the problem.
3. Ask yourself whether there is generalization of the solution
that could apply to other problems.
Example 1 Number of Direct Routes

Consider the map shown

in figure. Allison wishes to
walk along the streets from
point A to point B. How
many direct routes can
Allison take?
Example 1 Number of Direct Routes

Understand the Problem

We would not be able to answer the problem if Allison
retraced her path or travelled away from point B. Thus we
assume that on a direct route she always travels along a street
in a direction that gets her closer to point B.
Example 1 Number of Direct Routes
Devise a Plan
The map has many extraneous details. Thus we make a
digram that allows us to concentrate on the essential
information.

Because there are many routes, we consider the similar but

similar diagrams shown in Figure 1. The number at each street
intersection represents the number of routes from point A to
that particular intersection.
Example 1: Applying Polya’s Strategy

Devise a Plan
Look for patterns. It appears that the number of
routes to an intersection is the sum of the nuber
of routes to the adjacent intersection to its left
and the number of routes to the intersection
directly above. For instance, the number of
routes to the intersection labeled 6 is the sum of
the number of routes to the intersection to its left
labeled 3, and the number of routes to the
intersection directly above, which is also labeled
3.
Example 1 Number of Direct Routes
Carry out the Plan
Using the pattern discovered, we see from the Figure that the
number of routes from point A to point B is 20 + 15 = 35.

Review the Soluton

Ask yourself whether a result of 35 seems reasonable. If you
were required to draw each route, could you devise a scheme
that would enable you to draw each route without missing a
route or duplicating a route?
Example 2 Number of Games

In a basketball league
consisting of 10 teams,
each team plays each of
the other teams exactly
three times. How many
league games will be
played?
Example 2 Number of Games

Understand the Problem

A total of 10 teams play in the league exactly three games
against each other teams. We must look for the total number
of league games that has to be played.
Example 2 Number of Games
Devise a Plan
To solve this problem, first we consider similar but a simpler version of
the given problem. Suppose there are only four teams (team A, B, C and
D) in the league and they play against each of the other team once. So,
each team plays three games in total ( one game against each of the
other team). So, total number of games played will be 4 x 3 = 12.
However, in the calculation, game played has been over counted, for
example, game between A and B, and B and A has been calculated as 2
games while it is just one game. So, the correct number of games played
will be half of the previous result;
Example 2 Number of Games

Carry out the Plan

Using the processed discussed above, 10 teams play each
other once in total of Now, each team is played against the
other exactly three times, so the total number of games listed
is 45 x 3 = 135.
Example 2 Number of Games

Review the Soluton

Construct an organized list which shows all the matches
played. Let the 10 teams be A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, and J.
Then, the games played will be:

AB, AC, AD, AE, AF, AG, AH, AI, AJ, BC, BD, BE, BF, BG,
BH, BI, BJ, CD, CE, CF, CG, CH, CI, CJ, DE, DF, DG, DH,
DI, DJ, EF, EG, EH, EI, EJ, FG, FH, FI, FJ, GH, GI, GJ, HI,
HJ, IJ.
Example 3 Decimal Representation

Determine the digit 100 places to the right of the decimal

point in the decimal representation .
Example 3 Decimal Representation

Understand the Problem

In this problem we have to find the 100 th place of the fraction
in its decimal representation. Considering the fraction and
its decimal representation,
Example 3 Decimal Representation

Devise a Plan
The decimal form of the fraction shows that the decimal part
consists of three digits 2, 5, and 9. So the 100 th place is either
2, 5 or 9. Then we will observe that '259' (3 digits) gets
repeated after the decimal point again and again in number.
Example 3 Decimal Representation

Carry out the Plan

We want the 100th places, so we take the closest multiple of 3
in order to reach the start of the pattern again. Here closest
multiple of 3 is 99. The 99th number therefore is 9 followed
by the 100th number which is 2. The answer then is 2.
Example 3 Decimal Representation
Review the Soluton
To check our solution we have,

100 = 99 + 1 = 3 x 33 + 1
(3 is repeating digit, so divide 99 by 3 we will get 33 and
when we will multiply 3*33 = 99 and add 99 + 1, we will get
100).
So, the 99th decimal will be 9 (3rd digit of 0.259259259…)
Followed by the 100th = 2,
Then 100th decimal will be 2.
Example 4 Monopoly Game

In consecutive turns of a Monopoly

game, Stacy first paid $800 for a hotel.
She then lost half her money when she
landed on Boardwalk. Next, she
collected $200 for passing GO. She
then lost half her remaining money
when she landed on Illinois Avenue.
Stacy now has $2,500. How much did
she have just before she purchased the
hotel?
Example 4 Monopoly Game
Understand the Problem
We need to determine the number of dollars that Stacy had
just prior to her $800 hotel purchase.

Devise a Plan
We could guess and check, but we might need to make several
guesses before we found the correct solution. An algebraic
method might work, but setting up the necessary equation
could be a challenge. Since we know the end result, let us try
the method of working backwards.
Example 4 Monopoly Game
Carry out the Plan
Stacy must have had $5000 just before she landed on Illinois
avenue; $4800 just before she passed GO; and $9600 prior to
landing on Boardwalk. This means that $10, 400 just before
she purchased the hotel.

Review the Solution

To check our solution we start with $10, 400 and proceed
through each of the transactions. $10, 400 less $800 is $9,
600. Half of $9, 600 is $4, 800. $4, 800 increased by 200 is
$5, 000. Half of $5, 000 is $2, 500.
Example 4 Monopoly Game

Alternative Solution
We can also work by using algebra. Let A be the amount of
money Stacy had just before she purchased the hotel then,

A = 10, 400
Example 5 Cost of Hat and Jacket

A hat and a jacket

together cost $100. The
jacket costs $90 more
than the hat. What are
the costs of the hat and
the jacket?
Example 5 Cost of Hat and Jacket
Understand the Problem
The total cost of hat and jacket is $100. The jacket costs $90
more than the hat. It means that the difference between the
cost of the jacket and the hat is $90.

Devise a Plan
We let ‘j’ be the cost of the jacket and ‘h’ be the cost of the
hat. We know that jacket is $90 more than the hat therefore we
can say that j = h + 90
Example 5 Cost of Hat and Jacket
Carry out the Plan
Solve the equation generated by substituting values,
collecting the like terms and isolating the h term
j + h = 100
Now, divide both side of the equation
(h+90) + h = 100 with 2, we get h = 5. Substituting the value
of h to
2h + 90 = 100
j = h + 90 we get the value of j = 95.
2h = 100 – 90
Therefore the cost of the hat is $5 and
2h = 10 the cost of the jacket is $95.
Example 5 Cost of Hat and Jacket

Review the Soluton

Checking our solution we must add the cost of the jacket
and the cost of the hat we get $95 + $5 = $100 the total
cost of the jacket and the hat.