Problem Solving- 4 step plan
1. Understand -- Before you can solve a problem you must first understand it. Read and re-read the problem carefully to find all the clues and determine what the question is asking you to find.
• What is the unknown?
• What is the data given?
• What is the condition?
• What are the key words that indicate the mathematical operation to be performed?
• What extra information is given in the statement that is not required?
2. Plan -- Once you understand the question and the clues, it's time to use your previous experience with similar problems to look for strategies and tools to answer the question.
• Do you know a related problem?
• Look at the unknown! And try to think of a familiar problem having the same or a similar unknown?
3. Try It -- After deciding on a plan, you should try it and see what answer you come up with.
• Can you see clearly that the step is correct?
• Can you also prove that the step is correct?
4. Look Back -- Once you've tried it and found an answer, go back to the problem and see if you've really answered the question. Sometimes it's easy to overlook something. If you missed something check your plan and try the problem again.
• Can you check the result?
• Can you check the argument?
• Can you derive the same result differently?
Problem-Solving Strategies:
1. Make a table/chart
2. Make an organized list
3. Look for a pattern
4. Guess and check
5. Draw a picture or graph
6. Solve it step by step
7. Work backwards
8. Solve a simpler problem
You may also like to try some other strategies such as:
(i) Reading and restating problem
(ii) Brainstorming
(iii) Looking in another way
(iv) Making a model
(v) Identifying cases
Practice at least 4-5 problems daily. Instead of solving the problem, break down the task. This makes it easier to model all steps in the problem-solving process.
• What is the unknown?
• What is the data given?
• What is the condition?
• What are the key words that indicate the mathematical operation to be performed?
• What extra information is given in the statement that is not required?
2. Plan -- Once you understand the question and the clues, it's time to use your previous experience with similar problems to look for strategies and tools to answer the question.
• Do you know a related problem?
• Look at the unknown! And try to think of a familiar problem having the same or a similar unknown?
3. Try It -- After deciding on a plan, you should try it and see what answer you come up with.
• Can you see clearly that the step is correct?
• Can you also prove that the step is correct?
4. Look Back -- Once you've tried it and found an answer, go back to the problem and see if you've really answered the question. Sometimes it's easy to overlook something. If you missed something check your plan and try the problem again.
• Can you check the result?
• Can you check the argument?
• Can you derive the same result differently?
Problem-Solving Strategies:
1. Make a table/chart
2. Make an organized list
3. Look for a pattern
4. Guess and check
5. Draw a picture or graph
6. Solve it step by step
7. Work backwards
8. Solve a simpler problem
You may also like to try some other strategies such as:
(i) Reading and restating problem
(ii) Brainstorming
(iii) Looking in another way
(iv) Making a model
(v) Identifying cases
Practice at least 4-5 problems daily. Instead of solving the problem, break down the task. This makes it easier to model all steps in the problem-solving process.