Mathematics Problem Solving

Problem solving is an integral part of all mathematics learning. In everyday life and in the workplace, being able to solve problems can lead to great advantages. Problem solving means engaging in a task for which the solution is not known in advance. There are two types of problem, routine problem and non-routine problem. Routine problem solving involves using at least one of the four arithmetic operations and/or ratio to solve problems that are practical in nature. Routine problem solving concerns to a large degree the kind of problem solving that serves a socially useful function that has immediate and future payoff. on-routine problem solving involves some sort of !"ureka, I figured it out#! reaction after using strategies such as $guess and check$ to search for ways to solve a problem. % characteristic of this kind of problem solving is the involvement of the processes of e&ploring, speculating, and confirming. Problem 'olving Routine problem - 'trength( easily assessed by paper pencil tests - )eakness( least directly connected to human problem solving . Non-routine problem - 'trength( most directly connected to human problem solving - )eakness( least able to be assessed by paper-pencil tests. - can be divided into two types, static and active. i* 'tatic non-routine problem have a fi&ed known goals and known elements. "&ample( solving a +igsaw pu,,les ii* %ctive non-routine problem may have a fi&ed goal with changing elements, changing goal with fi&ed elements, changing goal with changing elements. - involves the use of heuristics (strategies that do not guarantee a solution to a problem but provide a more higly probable method for discovering the solution to a problem) or strategies such as guess and check to solve problem.

- involves the uses of sets of known or at least one of the arithmetic operations and/or ratio to solve problems.

Problem 1 I wrote - different numbers on - cards. The sum of the numbers is .-. )hat numbers did I put on the cards/ 01int( 2ake a guess. Then check your guess.*

Understanding the Problem 3 1ow many numbers did I write/ 0-* 3 )hat is the sum of the numbers/ 0.-* 3 1ow many numbers on each card/ 0.* 3 %re any 4 numbers the same/ 0 o, they are all different.* Planning a Solution 3 5ould . of the numbers be .-/ 0 o, because the rest would be 6 and we said that all the numbers were different.* 3 'elect - numbers and check to see if their sum is .-. Finding the Answer 7uess and 5heck 8P Try 6,.,4,9,:8;6 < . < 4 < 9 < : = .6 0too little* 8P Try .,4,9,:,-8;. < 4 < 9 < : < - - .- 0correct* The numbers are ., 4, 9, :, and -.

Problem 2 2arty did 4 of these activities. 1e paid for them with a >.6.66 bill. 1is change was >9.?-. )hat 4 activities did 2arty do/ 01int( 2ake a guess. Then check your guess.* Activity 2ovies Putt-Putt 7olf 'kating 7o-@art Rides Cost >9.-6 >9.66 >4.66 >4.?-

Understanding the Problem 3 1ow many activities did he do/ 04* 3 1ow much money did he have/ 0>.6.66* 3 )hat was his change/ 0>9.?-* Planning a Solution 3 1ow much money did he have/ 0>.6.66* )hat was the change/ 0>9.?-* 3 1ow much did he spend/ 0>A.4-* 3 If he saw the movies and golfed, how much money would he have spent/ 0>A.-6* Bid he do these 4 activities/ 0 o, they cost too much.* Finding the Answer 7uess and 5heck 8P Try movies and skating8;>9.-6 < >4.66 = >-.-6. 0too little* 8P Try movies and go-karts8;>9.-6 < >4.?- -- >A.4-. 0correct* The activities that 2arty did are the movies and the go-kart rides.

Problem 3 'eth and Cob each began reading a 1ardy Coys book today. If 'eth reads D pages each day and Cob reads - pages each day, what page will Cob be reading when 'eth is reading page -A/ 01int( 5omplete the table.* Bay . 4 9 'eth$s Page D .A 4: Cob$s Page .6 .-

Understanding the Problem 3 1ow many pages does 'eth read each day/ 0D* Cob/ 0-* 3 Bid they start reading their books on the same day/ 0yes* Planning a Solution 3 1ow many pages had 'eth read at the end of the first day/ 0D* Cob/ 0-* 3 )hen 'eth has read .A pages, how many pages will Cob have read/0.6* 3 Eind the number of pages 'eth read for the first - days. 0D, .A, 4:, 94, :6* Finding the Answer 2ake a Table Bay . 4 9 : A ? 'eth$s Page D .A 4: 94 :6 :D -A Cob$s Page .6 .46 496 9-

Cob will be reading page 9- when 'eth is reading page -A.