PROBLEM SOLVING

Problem Solving Plan

1. Clues
Read the problem carefully.
Underline clue words.
Ask yourself if you've seen a
problem similar to this one. If so,
what is similar about it?
What did you need to do?
What facts are you given?
What do you need to find out?
Problem Solving Plan
2. Game Plan
Define your game plan.
Have you seen a problem like this before?
Identify what you did.
Define your strategies to solve this
problem.
Try out your strategies. (Simplify, use
formulas/diagrams/tables/charts, guess
and check, look for a pattern, etc.)
If your strategy doesn't work, it may lead
you to an 'aha' moment and to a strategy
that does work.
Problem Solving Plan
3. Solve
Use your strategies to solve the problem

4. Reflect
This part is critical. Look over your solution.
Does it seem probable?
Did you answer the question?
Are you sure?
Did you answer using the language in the
question?
Same units?
Mixture Problem 1
Determine how many liters of a 7% acid solution and how many
liters of a 12% acid solution should be mixed to obtain 6 liters
of a 10% acid solution.
Let x = amount (liters) of 7% acid solution to include in the mix
6 x = amount (liters) of 12% acid solution to include in the
mix

7% acid solution
x liters
12% acid solution
(6-x) liters
10% acid solution
6 liters
mixed with
yields
0.07x liters
of acid
0.12(6-x) liters
of acid
0.10(6) liters
of acid
Mixture Problem 1
) 6 ( 10 . 0 ) 6 ( 12 . 0 07 . 0 = + x x
2.4 liters of the 7% solution & 3.6 liters of the 12% solution
must be used to obtain 6 liters of a 10% acid solution.
Percent of Acid
Number of liters
of solution
Number of liters
of acid
7% acid solution 7% x 0.07x
12% acid solution 12% 6 x 0.12(6 x)
mixture 10% 6 0.10(6)
60 . 0 12 . 0 72 . 0 07 . 0 = + x x
12 . 0 05 . 0 = x
4 . 2
5
12
05 . 0
12 . 0
= =

= x
x = 2.4 liters of the 7% acid solution
(6 x) = 3.6 liters of the 12% acid solution
Check
7% of 2.4liters = 0.168 liters of acid
12% of 3.6 liters = 0.432 liters of acid
0.168 + 0.432 = 0.60 (or 10% of 6 liters)
How many liters of pure water must be added to
50 liters of a 15% saline solution to make a
saline solution that is 10% salt?
Representation
Let x = amount (liters) of water to add
Given
present solution = 15% salt
resulting solution = 10% salt
Clues
volume of present solution = 50 liters
volume of resulting solution = (50+x) liters

Mixture Problem 2
Mixture Problem 2
25 liters of pure water must be added.
Volume (Liters)
of Liquid
% of salt Total Liters Salt
Water x 0 0
15% solution 50 0.15 0.15(50)= 7.5
10% mixture 50 + x 0.10 0.10(50 + x)
) 50 ( 10 . 0 5 . 7 x + =
x 10 . 0 5 5 . 7 + =
25
1 . 0
5 . 2
= = x
x = 25 liters
Check
resulting solution = 75 liters
7.5 liters salt in 75 liters solution
for 10% salt solution
Mixture Problem 3
Rico obtained 2 loans totaling PhP 30,000.The interest for the first
loan was 16%, and 12% for the second loan. The total annual
interest for the 2 loans was equal to the interest Rico would have
paid if the entire amount had been borrowed at 15%. What was
the amount of each loan? Let x = amount (PhP) of loan at 16%
30000 x = amount (PhP) of loan at 12%
0.16x = amount of interest for 1
st
loan
0.12(30000 x) = amount of interest for 2
nd
loan
Amount of
interest for 1
st

loan
Amount of
interest for 2
nd

loan
Amount of
interest for
30,000 at 15%
interest
+ =
0.16x + 3,600 0.12x = 4500 0.04x = 900 x = 900/0.04 = 22,500
x = PhP 22,500; 30,000 x = PhP 7,500 (Reflect & verify)
PhP 22,500 is invested at 16% while PhP 7,500 is invested at 12%.
Work Problems
A work problem is one in which a specific job is
done in a certain length of time when a uniform
rate of work is assumed
Example: if it takes a man 10 hr to paint a room,
then his rate of work is 1/10 of the room per
hour
To solve, we multiply the rate of work by the time
to obtain the fractional part of the work
completed
In the above example: if the painter takes 10
hrs to paint a room and he works for only 7 hrs,
then the fractional part of the room he was
able to paint is 7/10
Work Problem 1
One painter can paint a room in 12 hours and another can paint
the same room in 10 hours. How long will it take to paint the
room if they work together?
Given painter 1: can paint room in 12 hrs
painter 2: can paint same room in 10 hrs
Clues
What part of the room can painter 1 finish in 1 hour? 1/12
What part of the room can painter 2 finish in 1 hour? 1/10
Representation Let x time (hrs) it would take for the 2
painters to paint room together
Clue What part of the room can the 2 painters
finish in 1 hour? 1/x
Work Problem 1
part of room
painter 1 can
finish in 1hr
part of room
painter 2 can
finish in 1 hr
part of room 2
painters can
finish in 1 hr
+ =
x
x x x
x
60
10
60
12
60 1
10
1
12
1
= + = +
Solve multiply by LCD = 60x:
x
1
10
1
12
1
= +
11 / 60 60 11 60 6 5 = = = + x x x x
Both painters working together can finish the room in 60/11 hrs.
Check
part that painter 1 can finish in 60/11 hrs =
11
5
11
60
12
1
=
|
.
|

\
|
part that painter 2 can finish in 60/11 hrs =
11
6
11
60
10
1
=
|
.
|

\
|
Work Problem 2
A pipe can fill a swimming pool in 10 hrs. If a second pipe is
open, the 2 pipes together can fill the pool in 4 hrs. How
long would it take the second pipe alone to fill the pool?
Given pipe 1: can fill pool in 10 hrs
2 pipes together: can fill same pool in 4 hrs
Representation
Let x time (hrs) it would take for pipe 2 to fill the pool

Gameplan
What part of the pool can pipe 1 fill in 1 hour?
What part of the pool can pipe 2 fill in 1 hour?
What part of the pool can the 2 pipes fill in 1 hour?
Work Problem 2
part of pool
pipe1 can fill
in 1hr
part of pool
pipe 2 can fill in
1 hr
part of pool 2
pipes can fill
together in 1 hr
+ =
4
20 20
10
20
4
1 1
10
1 x
x
x x
x
= + = +
Solve multiply by LCD = 20x:
4
1 1
10
1
= +
x
3 / 20 20 3 5 20 2 = = = + x x x x
It takes 20/3 hrs for second pipe to fill the pool.
Check
part of the pool that pipe1 can fill in 4 hrs =
5
2
10
4
10
1
4 = =
|
.
|

\
|
part of the pool that pipe 2 can fill in 4 hrs =
5
3
20
12
20
3
4 = =
|
.
|

\
|
Number/Money Problem 1
The cost of advertising in the classified ads of a local
newspaper is equal to a fixed cost of PhP50,000 plus
PhP800 for each word appearing in the advertisement.
a) If Mr. Tan wants to place an advertisement of 25
words, how much does he need to pay?
b) Mr. Lee spent PhP84,400 in his ad. How many words
were in his advertisement?
c) Due to the crisis, advertising cost is reduced
to a fixed fee of PhP30,000 and the cost per
word is reduced by PhP100. How much would
Mr. Lee have saved if he were to place his
advertisement now?
Let C be the cost of advertising and n be the number of
words in an advertisement. With a fixed cost of
50,000 and 800 per word, then
C = 50,000 + 800n


a) Since Mr. Tan wants to place an advertisement of 25
words, then he needs to pay
C = 50,000 + 800(25)
= 50,000 + (200)(4)(25)
= 50,000 + (200)(100) = 50,000 + 20,000
Mr. Tan has to pay PhP70,000.
Number/Money Problem 1
b) Mr. Lee spent PhP84,400 in his ad. Thus, C = 84,400
and 84,400 = 50,000 + 800n
or
c) Due to the crisis, advertising cost is reduced to a
fixed fee of PhP30,000 and the cost per word is
reduced by PhP100. How much would Mr. Lee have
saved if he were to place his advertisement now?
C = 30,000 + 100(43) = 30,000 + 4,300
43
800
34400
800
50000 84400
= =

= n
Mr. Lees advertisement consisted of 43 words.
Mr. Lees advertisement would have cost him
only PhP34,300 if it were placed today.
Number/Money Problem 1
A number of students were to share equally the
expenses of PhP900 for a trip to Batangas. Due to
unforeseen circumstances, 5 were unable to make
it and the remaining students had to pay an extra
PhP2.50. How many were supposed to have joined
the trip originally?
Representation x = number of students initially joining
x 5 = number who actually joined
Analysis total cost to be shared = PhP900
initial cost per student:
x
900
actual cost paid per student who joined:
5 . 2
900
+
x
Number/Money Problem 2
Gameplan equate actual cost paid per student
joining
5
900
5 . 2
900

= +
x x
5 . 2
900
+
x
Clues total cost to be shared: PhP900
number who actually joined: x 5

actual cost paid per student who joined:
Solve multiply by LCD: x(x 5)
Number/Money Problem 2
5
900
5 . 2
900

= +
x x
900 ) ( 5 . 2 ) 5 ( 900 ) 5 ( x x x x = +
5
900
) 5 ( 5 . 2 ) 5 (
900
) 5 (

= +
x
x x x x
x
x x
Solve multiply by LCD: x(x 5)
x x x x 900 5 . 12 5 . 2 4500 900
2
= +
0 4500 5 . 12 5 . 2
2
= x x
0 1800 5
2
= x x
Number/Money Problem 2
0 1800 5
2
= x x
4
25
1800
4
25
5
2
5
1800
2
5
5
2
2 2
2
+ = +
|
.
|

\
|
+ =
|
.
|

\
|
+ x x x x
2
85
2
5
4
7225
2
5
2
= =
|
.
|

\
|
x x
2
80
,
2
90
2
85
2
5
= = x
Solution by completing the square method:
x = 45 or -40
Number/Money Problem 2
0 1800 5
2
= x x
0 ) 40 )( 45 ( = + x x
0 1800 5
2
= x x
Check by factoring:
x = 45 or -40
x = 45 or -40
Number/Money Problem 2
x = 45 or -40
Reflect Can both be solutions to the problem?
Since x refers to number of students initially
joining the trip, then x cannot be negative.
So x = 45.
Check If x = 45, then
cost/student = PhP900/45 = PhP 20.
number who actually = 45 5 = 40
actual cost/student = PhP 20 + 2.50 = PhP 22.50
total collection = 40(PhP22.50) = PhP900 \

Initially, 45 students were supposed to join the trip.
Number/Money Problem 2
A rectangle has an area of 288cm
2
. If the width is
decreased by 1cm and the length increased by 1cm,
the area would decrease by 3cm
2
. Find the original
dimensions of the rectangle.

Representation w = original width; l = original length
w 1 = new width; l + 1 = new length
Given original area of rectangle = 288cm
2
new area = 288 3 = 285cm
2

Gameplan express l in terms of w so there
is only 1 unknown
Since area = (length)(width),
then length = area/width.
Geometric Problem
original area = 288cm
2,
new area = 285cm
2
original width = w new width = w 1
original length = l new length = l + 1
Since area = (length)(width), then length = area/width.
So,
original length = 288/w new length = 285/(w 1)
But new length = original length + 1.
So
1
285
1
288

= +
w w
Solve multiply by LCD: w(w 1)
Geometric Problem
1
288
1
288

= +
w w
285 ) ( ) 1 ( 288 ) 1 ( w w w w = +
1
285
) 1 ( 1 ) 1 (
288
) 1 (

= +
w
w w w w
w
w w
Solve multiply by LCD: w(w 1)
w w w w 285 288 288
2
= +
0 288 2
2
= + w w
Geometric Problem
( ) 17 1 289 1
2
= + = + w w
1 288 1 2
2
2
288
2
2
2
2
2 2
2
+ = + +
|
.
|

\
|
+ =
|
.
|

\
|
+ + w w w w
18 , 16 17 1 = = w
0 288 2
2
= + w w
Solution by completing the square method:
w = 16 or -18
Check by factoring:
0 ) 18 )( 16 ( 288 2
2
= + = + w w w w
Geometric Problem
w = 16 or -18
Reflect Can both be solutions to the problem?
Since w refers to width of a rectangle, then w
cannot be negative.
So w = 16.
Check If w = 16, then l = 288/16 = 18.
new w = 16 1 = 15, new l = 18 + 1 = 19
new area = (15)(19) = 285 \
The original dimensions of the rectangle are:
16cm (width) by 18 cm (length).
Geometric Problem
Distance-Rate Problem
It takes Diane 2 more hours to complete a 50-km
journey than it takes Denise to complete a 40-km
journey. If the average speed of Diane for the
journey is 5 km/hr less than Denise, calculate the
average speed of each girl.
Clues distance = (speed)(time), units of measure must be
consistent
Distance (km)
Speed (km/hr)
Time (hr)
Diane 50 km unknown: x 50/x
Denise 40 km unknown: y 40/y
Dianes time = 2hr + Denises: 50/x = 2 + (40/y)
Dianes speed = Denises 5: x = y 5
Distance-Rate Problem
Distance (km)
Speed (km/hr)
Time (hr)
Diane 50 km unknown: x 50/x
Denise 40 km unknown: y 40/y
Gameplan
express in a single variable and solve
50/x = 2 + 40/y; x = y 5
y y
40
2
5
50
+ =

Solve multiply by LCD then solve for y;

substitute to get x
Reflect & Check
Answer the problem.
Work Problem Revisited
A rectangular tank can be filled with water by 2 pipes
in 11 1/9 minutes. If the larger pipe alone takes 5
minutes less to fill the tank than the smaller pipe,
find the time each pipe takes to fill the tank.
Clues if it takes n min to complete a job, then the
part of the job that can be finished in 1 min = 1/n.
Pipe
Time to fill tank
(min)
Part of tank
filled up in 1 min
Small unknown: x 1/x
Large unknown: y 1/y
Both 11 1/9 = 100/9 9/100
Large time = Small time 5: y = x 5
Work Problem Revisited
Pipe Time to fill (min) Part filled up in 1 min
Small unknown: x 1/x
Large unknown: y 1/y
Both 11 1/9 = 100/9 9/100
100
9
5
1 1
=

+
x x
Part of tank filled by small pipe in 1 min
+ Part filled up by large pipe in 1 min
= Part filled up by both pipes in 1 min
y = x 5
Solve multiply by LCD then solve for x;
substitute to get y
Reflect & Check; Answer the problem.
100
9 1 1
= +
y x
Gameplan express in a single variable and solve
Problem 1 Involving Inequalities
Evelyn intends to give her 12 good friends a treat at
the school canteen. Her friends can have either
a bowl of noodles or a plate of chicken rice. A
bowl of noodles costs PhP48 while a plate of
chicken rice is PhP60.
a) What is the maximum and minimum amount of
money she may have to spend?
b) If she intends to spend not more than PhP640,
what is the maximum number of plates of
chicken rice her friends can have if 2 of them
insist on having noodles?
Given 12 friends; bowl of noodles - PhP48;
plate of chicken rice - PhP60.

a) What is the maximum and minimum amount of
money she may have to spend?

Minimum: 12 noodles = 12(48) = PhP576
Maximum: 12 chicken rice = 12(60) = PhP720

Thus Evelyn may have to spend an amount in
the interval [PhP576, PhP720] or a minimum of
PhP576 and a maximum of PhP720.
Problem 1 Involving Inequalities
Given 12 friends; bowl of noodles - PhP48;
plate of chicken rice - PhP60.
Representation
Let x - maximum number of plates of chicken rice
that can be bought for PhP640 if 2 insist on
having noodles
2(48) + 60x s 640
Solve 60x s 640 96 x s 544/60 = 9.07
Check 2(48) + 60(9) = 96 + 540 = 636

Maximum number of plates of chicken
rice that can be bought (with 2 having
noodles) is 9.
Problem 1 Involving Inequalities
Pinky scored 75, 82 and 70 for 3 of his
Mathematics tests. What is the lowest
score that she should get for the 4
th
test
if she needs an average of at least 80 for
the 4 tests?

Given first 3 scores: 75, 82, 70
needs average of at least 80 for the 4 tests

Representation Let x score for the 4
th
test
(75+82+70+x)/4 > 80
Problem 2 Involving Inequalities
Solve (75+82+70+x)/4 > 80
227 + x > 4(80)
x > 320 227
x > 93
Check 75 + 82 + 70 + 93 = 320
average = 320/4 = 80
if 4
th
test score >90, then average > 80.

Pinky needs to get at least 90 in
the 4
th
test to get an average of at
least 80 in the 4 tests.
Problem 2 Involving Inequalities
Problem 1 Involving Venn diagrams
Joan needs to select a partner for the prom.
She classified 10 of her male friends as tall (T),
dark (D) and handsome (H) as follows:
Jojo
George
Don
Peter
Cris
Herbert
Gene
Dave
Rolly
Al
T
D
H
1) Joan wants her prom date to be
tall and handsome. Who are her
choices?
2) In another occasion, she wants
to date any boy who is dark.
Who are excluded?
3) Normally, she wants anyone
possessing at least 2 of the
qualities.
4) She has to decide whether Gene or Dave will
take her to dinner. Describe this set.
In a group of 120 music pupils, 80 of them
can play the guitar only while 25 can
play the piano only.
How many pupils can play both instruments
if there are 3 pupils who can play
neither?
x
25
80
guitar piano
music
pupils
3
Let x number of pupils who can play both
80 + x + 25 + 3 = 120
x + 108 = 120
x = 120 108 = 12
12 pupils can play
both instruments.
Problem 2 Involving Venn diagrams
The school discipline coordinator did a spot check
on the pupils of a class.
He found that 9 pupils did not have school ID, 12
did not wear proper uniform and 3 committed
both offenses.
If there are 39 pupils in class, how many did not
commit any offense?
3 9
6
ID
uniform
class
x
Let x number of pupils who did not
commit any offense
x = 39 (6 + 3 + 9)
x = 39 18 = 21
21 pupils did not
commit any offense.
Problem 3 Involving Venn diagrams
In UPLB, Math majors must take at
least one of Graph Theory (GT),
Finite Differences (FD), or Vector
Analysis (VA) as an elective.
In a survey of 40 majors, 20 will take
GT, 22 FD and 28 VA; 12 will take
GT and FD, 14 will take FD and VA,
and 15 will take GT and VA.
How many will take all three subjects
as electives?
GT
FD
VA
b
c
a
d e
f
?
Problem 4 Involving Venn diagrams
In a survey of 40 majors, 20 will take
GT, 22 FD and 28 VA; 12 will take
GT and FD, 14 will take FD and VA,
and 15 will take GT and VA.
15-x
14-x
12-x
GT
F
D
VA
b
c
a
d e
f
?
|GT|=20
|FD|=22
|VA|=28
x
d = 20 - (12-x+x+15-x) = x-7
x-7
e = 22 - (12-x+x+14-x) = x-4
x-4
f = 28 - (14-x+x+15-x) = x-1
x-1
|GT|+(x-4)+(14-x)+(x-1)=40
20 + x + 9 = 40
x = 40 29 = 11
11 majors will take all 3 electives.
Problem 4 Involving Venn diagrams