Identifying Sub-Goal

Two apples weigh the same as a banana and a cherry.

A banana weighs the same as nine cherries.
How many cherries weigh the same as one apple?
1. Understanding The Problem
a. What do we know?
1. Two apples are equal to one banana plus one cherry.
2.One banana is equal to nine cherries.
b. What do we need to find out?
1. The number of cherries that weighs the same as one apple.
2. Devise A Plan
a. Suggested problem solving strategies:
i. Identifying sub-goal
It is a way in which sub goal is used when solving a
complex problem.
Sub goal is usually identified and solved first, before we
can further reach our final goal.
Note that we cannot reach our final goal if we didnt solve
the sub goal first.

3. Carry Out The Plan

i. identifying sub-goal

Information:
A = an apple
B = a banana
C = a cherry


Two apples weigh the same as a banana and a cherry.

2A = B + C ---------- (1)

A banana weighs the same as nine cherries.
B = 9C ---------- (2)
Substitute (2) into (1)
2A = B + C
2A = 9C + C
2A = 10C
A = 5C

How many cherries weigh the same as one apple?

A = 5C

From here we know that 1 apple or A is equal to 5 cherries or 5C. Thus, 5 Cherries weigh the same as 1 apple.

4. Looking Backward

We know that, A = 5C and B = 9C
From the equation,
2A = B + C

Substitute A = 5C and B = 9C
2A = B + C
2 (5C) = 9C + C
10C = 10C

We obtain the same value, this mean the strategy is work.

Justification of the Best Strategy
Actually, we have two problem solving strategies that are, identifying sub-goal and using a diagram.
But, we found out that using a diagram is the best choice, the most suitable and effective strategy to
solve our problem as compared to identifying sub-goal. Although, identifying sub-goal is simpler, easier
and take short time to explain but using a diagram can be another way round. It needs a lot of explanations
by using a proper and suitable diagram and all these will take a lot of time. Besides that, we must be alert to
the change of any variables of the diagram to avoid misconception among students. Now, we can see that
identifying sub-goal seem to be the most suitable strategy as compared to using the diagram to solve problem.
But, why we chose using the diagram to be the best strategy? This is because using a diagram has more benefits
and can become advanced on the mentally side to enhance the students so that they can understand faster the
problem and digest it to be solve later. Meanwhile, identifying sub-goal has also it own benefit on the mentally side
of the students but it may create a lot misunderstanding and misconception among the students. This is because
identifying sub-goal consists of unknown in the problem that need to be solved and sometimes this unknown can
create a big confusion or create a wrong perception towards the problem. All these will affect the students mentality
and they will lose interest to follow the lesson. On the other hand, using a diagram seems to have a positive impact
to attract the students attention. Furthermore, using the diagram is a very interactive way to display the problem in
the form of diagram so that it will be easier to be understood. Colorful diagram has also a great effect on students
attention. This colorful diagram will increase their interest towards the problem. At the same, they will concentrate
and focus on the problem. Thus, this will make a problem easy to solve. In addition, using a diagram can show very
clear steps in solving process that can avoid serious mistake. As for us, using a diagram is more flexible and
acceptable by any age because it really easy to understand and may become very fun and interesting way to
solve a problem. While identifying sub-goal is limit to school children only not the aged people because it involved
unknown in the problem and lacking of interesting way of solving problem. Hence, we conclude that using a diagram
is the best strategy to solve the problem.
REFLECTION
The title of the KKP 1 of Basics Mathematics given by Madam Chai Chin Peng is Problem solving. Through this project,
we are divided into several groups which consist of 2 to 3 member each. We are given almost for a month to complete this
project.

I was in the group along with Mohamad Syafiq who was also the leader of this group, and Sylvester Jonny.
Together three of us start this project by the night after we are parted into this group. As one of the group members, together
Syafiq, Sylvester and I worked on retrieving any information about the Problem Solving and George Polya for the introduction.
Each of us are assign to find problem to solved. At first my question were commented by madam, being to common and to
simple. Therefore I change my problem solving question.

At the end of this project, all what can I tell is I have gained a lot of new experience and have improved myself better
in giving right cooperation with my group members and built a successful team work in my group. In addition, apart from team
work, I also learnt the communication skills on how to deliver our ideas correctly, how to deny or accept another idea and
also on how to do some collaboration with the lecturer politely.

However, there are also some disadvantages or problem encountered through this project. The main problem I
faced is about the time management skills. Although there are a lot of activities along the week of the project, I admit that
sometimes I have failed to manage my time to complete this project before the date line. I hope that after this project, I
can still apply the correct time management in my daily life. Besides, the other obstacle in this project is about my difficulties
In understanding the project given. I was really lost by the time the project was given to me as I actually not read the
instructions very well. It was also my bad as I was afraid and too shy to ask Madam Chai Chin Pheng further question
which can make me understand better about the task give. After this project, I hope that I can increase my self-confidence
and be brave enough to ask lecturers about the task given. Generally, the problem solving are very useful in our routine and
non- routine problem.

Last but not at least, I am really hope that I can do much better after this and applied all the skills I have learnt
through this project in my daily life. I also hope that the bond between me and my fellow friends will be last forever as
a very good friend in this world.

Gray Princeley Chua