Inductive Reasoning

Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Problem Solving and Reasoning

Jonwille Mark Castro

The Adelphi College, Inc.

September 30, 2020

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Table of Contents

1 Inductive Reasoning

2 Deductive Reasoning

3 Problem Solving With Patterns

4 Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Table of Contents

1 Inductive Reasoning

2 Deductive Reasoning

3 Problem Solving With Patterns

4 Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

The type of reasoning that uses specific examples to reach a

general conclusion of something is called inductive reasoning. The
conclusion formed by using inductive reasoning is called a
conjecture. A conjecture is an idea that may or may not be
correct.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Example
Use inductive reasoning to predict the next number in each of the
following lists.
1 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, ?
2 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, ?

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Example
Use inductive reasoning to predict the next number in each of the
following lists.
1 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, ?
2 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, ?

Solution
1 Each successive number is 5 units larger than the preceding

number. Thus, it can be predicted that the next number in

the list is 5 units larger than 25, which is 30.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Example
Use inductive reasoning to predict the next number in each of the
following lists.
1 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, ?
2 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, ?

Solution
1 Each successive number is 5 units larger than the preceding

number. Thus, it can be predicted that the next number in

the list is 5 units larger than 25, which is 30.
2 Observe that all the numbers are perfect squares.
1 = 12 , 4 = 22 , 9 = 32 , 16 = 42 , 25 = 52 . Thus, it can be
predicted that the next number is to be 36 = 62 .

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Example
Use inductive reasoning to make a conjecture out of the following
process.
Consider the following procedure:
1 Pick a number.
2 Multiply the number by 10.
3 Add 8 to the product.
4 Divide the sum by 2.
5 Subtract the quotient by 4.
Repeat the procedure for several different numbers. Make a
conjecture between the relationship of the size of the resulting
number and the size of the original number using inductive
reasoning.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Solution
Suppose we pick 3 as our original number.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Solution
Suppose we pick 3 as our original number.
Original number: 3

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Solution
Suppose we pick 3 as our original number.
Original number: 3
Multiply 3 by 10: 30

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Solution
Suppose we pick 3 as our original number.
Original number: 3
Multiply 3 by 10: 30
Add 8 to the product: 8 + 30 = 38

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Solution
Suppose we pick 3 as our original number.
Original number: 3
Multiply 3 by 10: 30
Add 8 to the product: 8 + 30 = 38
38
Divide the sum by 2: = 19
2

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Solution
Suppose we pick 3 as our original number.
Original number: 3
Multiply 3 by 10: 30
Add 8 to the product: 8 + 30 = 38
38
Divide the sum by 2: = 19
2
Subtract the quotient by 4: 19 − 4 = 15

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Solution
Suppose we pick 3 as our original number.
Original number: 3
Multiply 3 by 10: 30
Add 8 to the product: 8 + 30 = 38
38
Divide the sum by 2: = 19
2
Subtract the quotient by 4: 19 − 4 = 15
We started with 3 and the procedure produces 15. Starting with 4
as our original number and the procedure produces 20. Starting
with 10 as our original number and the procedure produces 50.
Starting with 50 as our original number and the procedure
produces 250. In each of these cases the procedure produces a
number that is five times the original number. It is conjectured
that the given procedure produces a number that is five times the
original number.
Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning
 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Example
Use the data in the table and by inductive reasoning, answer the
following questions below.

Earthquake Magnitude Max. Tsunami Height (meters)

7.5 5
7.6 9
7.7 13
7.8 17
7.9 21
8.0 25
8.1 29
8.2 33
8.3 37

1 If the earthquake magnitude is 8.5, how high (in meters) can the
tsunami be?
2 Can a tsunami occur when the earthquake magnitude is less than 7?
Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning
 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Solution
1 In the table, for every 0.1 increase in earthquake magnitude,

the maximum tsunami height increases by 4 meters. Thus it is

conjectured that the maximum tsunami height for the
earthquake magnitude of 8.5 is 45 meters.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Solution
1 In the table, for every 0.1 increase in earthquake magnitude,

the maximum tsunami height increases by 4 meters. Thus it is

conjectured that the maximum tsunami height for the
earthquake magnitude of 8.5 is 45 meters.
2 No, because when the earthquake magnitude is 7.4, the
maximum tsunami height is only 1 meter. Hence, a tsunami
does not occur when the earthquake magnitude is less than 7.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Conclusions based on inductive reasoning may not be always true.

In other words, a conjecture formed by using inductive reasoning
may be incorrect. To illustrate this, consider the results below.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Conclusions based on inductive reasoning may not be always true.

In other words, a conjecture formed by using inductive reasoning
may be incorrect. To illustrate this, consider the results below.

11 × (1)(101) = 1111
11 × (2)(101) = 2222
11 × (3)(101) = 3333
11 × (4)(101) = 4444
11 × (5)(101) = 5555
11 × (6)(101) = ?

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Conclusions based on inductive reasoning may not be always true.

In other words, a conjecture formed by using inductive reasoning
may be incorrect. To illustrate this, consider the results below.

11 × (1)(101) = 1111
11 × (2)(101) = 2222
11 × (3)(101) = 3333
11 × (4)(101) = 4444
11 × (5)(101) = 5555
11 × (6)(101) = ?
Simple arithmetic shows that the answer is 6666; hence it is
conjectured that the product of 11 and a multiple of 101 is a
number where all digits are equal. But is 11 × (n)(101) = nnnn
true for all n (n, a natural number)?

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Conclusions based on inductive reasoning may not be always true.

In other words, a conjecture formed by using inductive reasoning
may be incorrect. To illustrate this, consider the results below.

11 × (1)(101) = 1111
11 × (2)(101) = 2222
11 × (3)(101) = 3333
11 × (4)(101) = 4444
11 × (5)(101) = 5555
11 × (6)(101) = ?
Simple arithmetic shows that the answer is 6666; hence it is
conjectured that the product of 11 and a multiple of 101 is a
number where all digits are equal. But is 11 × (n)(101) = nnnn
true for all n (n, a natural number)?
Suppose n = 10. Then 11 × (10)(101) = 11, 110 which obviously
does not satisfy the previous conclusion. This method of
disproving a statement is to give a counterexample.
Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning
 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Example
Verify that each of the following statement is incorrect by giving a
counterexample.
x
1 =1
x
√
2 x2 + 4 = x + 2

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Example
Verify that each of the following statement is incorrect by giving a
counterexample.
x
1 =1
x
√
2 x2 + 4 = x + 2

Solution
0 x
1 Let x = 0. Then 6= 1. This implies that = 1 is not true
0 x
for all x.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Example
Verify that each of the following statement is incorrect by giving a
counterexample.
x
1 =1
x
√
2 x2 + 4 = x + 2

Solution
0 x
1 Let x = 0. Then 6= 1. This implies that = 1 is not true
0 x
for all x.
√ √
2 For x = 1, 12+4= 5. But x + 2 = 3 when x = 1. Then,
√ √
2
5 6= 3, implies x + 4 = x + 2 is a false statement.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Table of Contents

1 Inductive Reasoning

2 Deductive Reasoning

3 Problem Solving With Patterns

4 Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Deductive reasoning is a type of reasoning that uses general

procedures and principles to reach a conclusion.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Deductive reasoning is a type of reasoning that uses general

procedures and principles to reach a conclusion.
Definition
Deductive reasoning is the process of reaching a general
conclusion by applying general assumptions, procedures, or
principles.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Example
Use deductive reasoning to make a conjecture.
Consider the following procedure: Pick a number. Multiply the
number by 10, add 8 to the product, divide the sum by 2, and
subtract 4.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Example
Use deductive reasoning to make a conjecture.
Consider the following procedure: Pick a number. Multiply the
number by 10, add 8 to the product, divide the sum by 2, and
subtract 4.

Solution
Let n represent the original number.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Example
Use deductive reasoning to make a conjecture.
Consider the following procedure: Pick a number. Multiply the
number by 10, add 8 to the product, divide the sum by 2, and
subtract 4.

Solution
Let n represent the original number.
Multiply n by 10: 10n

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Example
Use deductive reasoning to make a conjecture.
Consider the following procedure: Pick a number. Multiply the
number by 10, add 8 to the product, divide the sum by 2, and
subtract 4.

Solution
Let n represent the original number.
Multiply n by 10: 10n
Add 8 to the product: 8 + 10n

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Example
Use deductive reasoning to make a conjecture.
Consider the following procedure: Pick a number. Multiply the
number by 10, add 8 to the product, divide the sum by 2, and
subtract 4.

Solution
Let n represent the original number.
Multiply n by 10: 10n
Add 8 to the product: 8 + 10n
8 + 10n
Divide the sum by 2: = 4 + 5n
2

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Example
Use deductive reasoning to make a conjecture.
Consider the following procedure: Pick a number. Multiply the
number by 10, add 8 to the product, divide the sum by 2, and
subtract 4.

Solution
Let n represent the original number.
Multiply n by 10: 10n
Add 8 to the product: 8 + 10n
8 + 10n
Divide the sum by 2: = 4 + 5n
2
Subtract the quotient by 4: 4 + 5n − 4 = 5n

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Example
Use deductive reasoning to make a conjecture.
Consider the following procedure: Pick a number. Multiply the
number by 10, add 8 to the product, divide the sum by 2, and
subtract 4.

Solution
Let n represent the original number.
Multiply n by 10: 10n
Add 8 to the product: 8 + 10n
8 + 10n
Divide the sum by 2: = 4 + 5n
2
Subtract the quotient by 4: 4 + 5n − 4 = 5n
We started with n and ended with 5n after following the given
procedure. This means that the given procedure produces a
number that is five times the original number.
Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning
 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Example
Each of the four friends Donna, Sarah, Nikkie, and Xhanelle, has a
different pet (fish, cat, dog, and snake). From the following clues,
determine the pet of each individual:
1 Sarah is older than her friend who owns the cat and younger
than her friend who owns the dog.
2 Nikkie and her friend who owns the snake are both of the
same age and are the youngest members of their group.
3 Donna is older than her friend who owns the fish.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Solution
From Clue 1, Sarah does not own a cat nor a dog. In the following
chart, write X1 (which stands for ”ruled out by clue 1”) in the cat
and dog column for Sarah.

Fish Cat Dog Snake

Donna
Sarah X1 X1
Nikkie
Xhanelle

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Solution
From Clue 2, Nikkie does not own a snake and a dog being the
youngest. And since Sarah is not the youngest from Clue 1, then
Sarah does not own a snake as well. Write X2 (ruled out by clue 2)
in the snake column for Nikkie and X1 in the snake column for
Sarah. There are now Xs in the 3 pets in Sarah’s row, therefore
Sarah owns the fish. Put a X which means Sarah’s pet is a fish.
So, Donna, Nikkie, and Xhanelle do not own the fish.
Fish Cat Dog Snake
Donna X2
Sarah X X1 X1 X1
Nikkie X2 X2 X2
Xhanelle X2

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Solution
From Clue 3, Donna is older than Sarah, hence Donna owns the
dog. Write X3 (ruled out by clue 3) in cat and snake columns for
Donna. There are now Xs in snake column for Donna, Sarah, and
Nikkie; therefore Xhanelle owns the snake. Put a check in that
box. Write X3 in the cat column for Xhanelle; hence Nikkie owns
the cat. Put a check in that box.
Fish Cat Dog Snake
Donna X2 X3 X X3
Sarah X X1 X1 X1
Nikkie X2 X X2 X2
Xhanelle X2 X3 X3 X

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Table of Contents

1 Inductive Reasoning

2 Deductive Reasoning

3 Problem Solving With Patterns

4 Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

A sequence is an ordered list of numbers. The numbers, separated

by commas, are called the terms of the sequence. From our
discussion in Section 1.2, we knew that the first six terms of the
Fibonacci sequence are 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8. If we use the mathematical
notation Fn to denote the nth term of the Fibonacci sequence,
then,

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

A sequence is an ordered list of numbers. The numbers, separated

by commas, are called the terms of the sequence. From our
discussion in Section 1.2, we knew that the first six terms of the
Fibonacci sequence are 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8. If we use the mathematical
notation Fn to denote the nth term of the Fibonacci sequence,
then,

For the first month, n = 1, F1 = 1.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

A sequence is an ordered list of numbers. The numbers, separated

by commas, are called the terms of the sequence. From our
discussion in Section 1.2, we knew that the first six terms of the
Fibonacci sequence are 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8. If we use the mathematical
notation Fn to denote the nth term of the Fibonacci sequence,
then,

For the first month, n = 1, F1 = 1.

For the second month, n = 2, F2 = 1.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

A sequence is an ordered list of numbers. The numbers, separated

by commas, are called the terms of the sequence. From our
discussion in Section 1.2, we knew that the first six terms of the
Fibonacci sequence are 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8. If we use the mathematical
notation Fn to denote the nth term of the Fibonacci sequence,
then,

For the first month, n = 1, F1 = 1.

For the second month, n = 2, F2 = 1.
For the third month, n = 3, F3 = 2.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

A sequence is an ordered list of numbers. The numbers, separated

by commas, are called the terms of the sequence. From our
discussion in Section 1.2, we knew that the first six terms of the
Fibonacci sequence are 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8. If we use the mathematical
notation Fn to denote the nth term of the Fibonacci sequence,
then,

For the first month, n = 1, F1 = 1.

For the second month, n = 2, F2 = 1.
For the third month, n = 3, F3 = 2.
For the fourth month, n = 4, F4 = 3.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

A sequence is an ordered list of numbers. The numbers, separated

by commas, are called the terms of the sequence. From our
discussion in Section 1.2, we knew that the first six terms of the
Fibonacci sequence are 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8. If we use the mathematical
notation Fn to denote the nth term of the Fibonacci sequence,
then,

For the first month, n = 1, F1 = 1.

For the second month, n = 2, F2 = 1.
For the third month, n = 3, F3 = 2.
For the fourth month, n = 4, F4 = 3.
For the fifth month, n = 5, F5 = 5.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

A sequence is an ordered list of numbers. The numbers, separated

by commas, are called the terms of the sequence. From our
discussion in Section 1.2, we knew that the first six terms of the
Fibonacci sequence are 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8. If we use the mathematical
notation Fn to denote the nth term of the Fibonacci sequence,
then,

For the first month, n = 1, F1 = 1.

For the second month, n = 2, F2 = 1.
For the third month, n = 3, F3 = 2.
For the fourth month, n = 4, F4 = 3.
For the fifth month, n = 5, F5 = 5.
For the sixth month, n = 6, F6 = 8.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

A sequence is an ordered list of numbers. The numbers, separated

by commas, are called the terms of the sequence. From our
discussion in Section 1.2, we knew that the first six terms of the
Fibonacci sequence are 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8. If we use the mathematical
notation Fn to denote the nth term of the Fibonacci sequence,
then,

For the first month, n = 1, F1 = 1.

For the second month, n = 2, F2 = 1.
For the third month, n = 3, F3 = 2.
For the fourth month, n = 4, F4 = 3.
For the fifth month, n = 5, F5 = 5.
For the sixth month, n = 6, F6 = 8.

The Fibonacci sequence then is the ordered list of numbers 1, 1, 2,

3, 5, 8, . . . , Fn , . . . where the three dots indicate that the sequence
continues beyond 8 and Fn .
Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning
 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

How do we determine Fn , the nth term? Observe that,

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

How do we determine Fn , the nth term? Observe that,

F2 = F1

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

How do we determine Fn , the nth term? Observe that,

F2 = F1
F3 = F2 + F1

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

How do we determine Fn , the nth term? Observe that,

F2 = F1
F3 = F2 + F1
F4 = F3 + F2

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

How do we determine Fn , the nth term? Observe that,

F2 = F1
F3 = F2 + F1
F4 = F3 + F2
F5 = F4 + F3

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

How do we determine Fn , the nth term? Observe that,

F2 = F1
F3 = F2 + F1
F4 = F3 + F2
F5 = F4 + F3
F6 = F5 + F4

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

How do we determine Fn , the nth term? Observe that,

F2 = F1
F3 = F2 + F1
F4 = F3 + F2
F5 = F4 + F3
F6 = F5 + F4
From these patterns, we conjecture that
Fn = Fn−1 + Fn−2 , for n ≥ 3. Fibonacci discovered that a
Fibonacci number can be found by adding its previous two
Fibonacci numbers.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Definition (The Fibonacci Numbers)

F1 = 1, F2 = 1, and Fn = Fn−1 + Fn−2 , for n ≥ 3.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Example
Use the definition of Fibonacci numbers to find the eighth and
tenth Fibonacci numbers.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Example
Use the definition of Fibonacci numbers to find the eighth and
tenth Fibonacci numbers.

Solution
F8 = F7 + F6

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Example
Use the definition of Fibonacci numbers to find the eighth and
tenth Fibonacci numbers.

Solution
F8 = F7 + F6
= (F6 + F5 ) + F6

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Example
Use the definition of Fibonacci numbers to find the eighth and
tenth Fibonacci numbers.

Solution
F8 = F7 + F6
= (F6 + F5 ) + F6
= (8 + 5) + 8

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Example
Use the definition of Fibonacci numbers to find the eighth and
tenth Fibonacci numbers.

Solution
F8 = F7 + F6
= (F6 + F5 ) + F6
= (8 + 5) + 8
= 13 + 8

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Example
Use the definition of Fibonacci numbers to find the eighth and
tenth Fibonacci numbers.

Solution
F8 = F7 + F6
= (F6 + F5 ) + F6
= (8 + 5) + 8
= 13 + 8
= 21

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Example
Use the definition of Fibonacci numbers to find the eighth and
tenth Fibonacci numbers.

Solution
F8 = F7 + F6
= (F6 + F5 ) + F6
= (8 + 5) + 8
= 13 + 8
= 21

F10 = F9 + F8

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Example
Use the definition of Fibonacci numbers to find the eighth and
tenth Fibonacci numbers.

Solution
F8 = F7 + F6
= (F6 + F5 ) + F6
= (8 + 5) + 8
= 13 + 8
= 21

F10 = F9 + F8
= (F8 + F7 ) + F8

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Example
Use the definition of Fibonacci numbers to find the eighth and
tenth Fibonacci numbers.

Solution
F8 = F7 + F6
= (F6 + F5 ) + F6
= (8 + 5) + 8
= 13 + 8
= 21

F10 = F9 + F8
= (F8 + F7 ) + F8
= (21 + 13) + 21

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Example
Use the definition of Fibonacci numbers to find the eighth and
tenth Fibonacci numbers.

Solution
F8 = F7 + F6
= (F6 + F5 ) + F6
= (8 + 5) + 8
= 13 + 8
= 21

F10 = F9 + F8
= (F8 + F7 ) + F8
= (21 + 13) + 21
= 34 + 21

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Example
Use the definition of Fibonacci numbers to find the eighth and
tenth Fibonacci numbers.

Solution
F8 = F7 + F6
= (F6 + F5 ) + F6
= (8 + 5) + 8
= 13 + 8
= 21

F10 = F9 + F8
= (F8 + F7 ) + F8
= (21 + 13) + 21
= 34 + 21
= 55
Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning
 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Example
Use the definition of Fibonacci numbers to find the eighth and
tenth Fibonacci numbers.

Solution
F8 = F7 + F6
= (F6 + F5 ) + F6
= (8 + 5) + 8
= 13 + 8
= 21

F10 = F9 + F8
= (F8 + F7 ) + F8
= (21 + 13) + 21
= 34 + 21
= 55
Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning
 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

It is easy to find the nth Fibonacci number Fn if the two previous

numbers, Fn−1 and Fn−2 are known. Suppose we want to find F20 .
Using the definition, it is tedious and time consuming to compute
F19 and F18 to determine F20 . Fortunately, Jacques Binet in 1543
was able to find a formula for the nth Fibonacci number.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

It is easy to find the nth Fibonacci number Fn if the two previous

numbers, Fn−1 and Fn−2 are known. Suppose we want to find F20 .
Using the definition, it is tedious and time consuming to compute
F19 and F18 to determine F20 . Fortunately, Jacques Binet in 1543
was able to find a formula for the nth Fibonacci number.
Definition (Binet’s Formula)
" √ !n √ !n #
1 1+ 5 1− 5
Fn = √ −
5 2 2

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Example
Use Binet’s formula and a calculator to find the 20th and 50th
Fibonacci number.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Example
Use Binet’s formula and a calculator to find the 20th and 50th
Fibonacci number.

Solution
√ !20 √ !20
 
1  1+ 5 1− 5
F20 =√ − 
5 2 2

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Example
Use Binet’s formula and a calculator to find the 20th and 50th
Fibonacci number.

Solution
√ !20 √ !20
 
1  1+ 5 1− 5
F20 =√ − 
5 2 2
= 6765

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Example
Use Binet’s formula and a calculator to find the 20th and 50th
Fibonacci number.

Solution
√ !20 √ !20
 
1  1+ 5 1− 5
F20 =√ − 
5 2 2
= 6765
√ !50 √ !50
 
1  1+ 5 1− 5
F50 √ − 
5 2 2

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Example
Use Binet’s formula and a calculator to find the 20th and 50th
Fibonacci number.

Solution
√ !20 √ !20
 
1  1+ 5 1− 5
F20 =√ − 
5 2 2
= 6765
√ !50 √ !50
 
1  1+ 5 1− 5
F50 √ − 
5 2 2
= 12, 586, 269, 020

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Another famous mathematician who loves patterns is Blaise Pascal

(1623 - 1662). For hundreds of years, many mathematicians were
intrigued with the Pascal’s triangle. The figure below illustrates
the first seven rows of the Pascal’s triangle. As you can see, each
row starts and ends with the number 1. Any other number x is the
sum of the two numbers in the previous row closest to that
number x. For instance, the number 15 in row 6 is the sum of
numbers 5 and 10 closest to it in the previous row.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Another famous mathematician who loves patterns is Blaise Pascal

(1623 - 1662). For hundreds of years, many mathematicians were
intrigued with the Pascal’s triangle. The figure below illustrates
the first seven rows of the Pascal’s triangle. As you can see, each
row starts and ends with the number 1. Any other number x is the
sum of the two numbers in the previous row closest to that
number x. For instance, the number 15 in row 6 is the sum of
numbers 5 and 10 closest to it in the previous row.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

In algebra, expanding (x + y )3 = x 3 + 3x 2 y + 3xy 2 + y 3 is just a

simple special product process. But expanding (x + y )6 can be
tedious. Amazingly, not that the numerical coefficients of the
expansion of (x + y )3 = x 3 + 3x 2 y + 3xy 2 + y 3 are the entries in
row 3 of the Pascal’s triangle, i.e., 1, 3, 3, 1. Moreover, take not
that the exponents of x in that expansion starts with 3 and
decreasing in the succeeding terms while the exponents of y starts
with 0 and increasing in the remaining terms. Now, we expand
(x + y )6 using the entries in row 6 (1, 6, 15, 20, 15, 6, 1) of the
Pascal’s triangle. The result is given below.

(x + y )6 = x 6 + 6x 5 y + 15x 4 y 2 + 20x 3 y 3 + 15x 2 y 4 + 6xy 5 + y 6

Can you try expanding (x − y )7 ?

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Suppose you add the horizontal entries in the rows of the Pascal’s
triangle except row 0. What pattern do you observe in these sums?
Can you predict the sum of the entries in row 10?

Row Sum
1 2
2 4
3 8
4 16
5 32
6 64
10 ?

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Another amazing discovery in Pascal’s triangle is that when you

get the sum of the numbers using the lines as shown in the next
figure, the Fibonacci sequence appears. The first seven Fibonacci
numbers 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13 show up.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Another equally famous problem involving patterns is the Tower

of Hanoi, invented by Edouard Lucas in 1883. The Tower of
Hanoi is a puzzle consisting of three pegs and a number of disks of
distinct diameters piled as shown in the figure below.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

The puzzle requires that all the disks be moved from the first peg
to the third peg such that the largest disk is on the bottom, the
next largest disk is placed on top of the largest disk and so on and
that only one disk be moved at a time. All pegs may be used.
Determine the minimum number of moves required to transfer the
disks from the first peg to the third peg for each of the following
situations. Visit the website
https://www.mathisfun.com/games/towerofhanoi.html for a nice
simulation of the puzzle.
1 You start with only one disk.
2 You start with two disks.
3 You start with three disks.
4 You start with four disks.
5 You start with five disks.
6 How about if there are n number of disks?
Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning
 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Table of Contents

1 Inductive Reasoning

2 Deductive Reasoning

3 Problem Solving With Patterns

4 Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Definition (Polya’s Four-Step Problem-Solving Strategy)

1 Understand the problem.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Definition (Polya’s Four-Step Problem-Solving Strategy)

1 Understand the problem.
2 Devise a plan.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Definition (Polya’s Four-Step Problem-Solving Strategy)

1 Understand the problem.
2 Devise a plan.
3 Carry out the plan.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Definition (Polya’s Four-Step Problem-Solving Strategy)

1 Understand the problem.
2 Devise a plan.
3 Carry out the plan.
4 Review the solution.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Definition (Polya’s Four-Step Problem-Solving Strategy)

1 Understand the problem.
2 Devise a plan.
3 Carry out the plan.
4 Review the solution.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Understand the Problem

This part of problem solving is sometimes, if not always, neglected.
In order to solve a problem, one must first know what is being
asked, and what information or data can be extracted from what is
given. Furthermore, one must see to it that he or she can state the
problem in his or her own words.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Understand the Problem

This part of problem solving is sometimes, if not always, neglected.
In order to solve a problem, one must first know what is being
asked, and what information or data can be extracted from what is
given. Furthermore, one must see to it that he or she can state the
problem in his or her own words.
Devise a Plan
For this step, one must think of strategies to solve the problem.
Some of these strategies include organizing the given information
using a list, table, or chart; drawing a diagram; working out the
problem backwards; looking for a pattern; trying to solve a similar
but simpler problem; writing an equation; or simply guessing at a
possible solution and then later checking if the result is valid.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Carry Out the Plan

Carrying out a plan to solve the problem is basically implementing
the strategy chosen in the second step until the problem is solved
or until a new course of action is suggested. One may get ideas
from others in deciding the best strategy to make sure that the
best solution is employed.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Carry Out the Plan

Carrying out a plan to solve the problem is basically implementing
the strategy chosen in the second step until the problem is solved
or until a new course of action is suggested. One may get ideas
from others in deciding the best strategy to make sure that the
best solution is employed.
Review the Solution
Questions like ”Is your answer reasonable?” is important in
checking the veracity of the answer to the problem. For example, if
one is looking for the dimensions of a rectangular box of least cost
and his or her answer yields a negative length, he or she can
automatically say that there must be something wrong with the
solution because there is no such box with negative dimensions.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Example
Apply Polya’s strategy in solving the following problem.
The GSW basketball team won three out of their last six games. In
how many different orders could they have attained three wins and
three losses in six games?

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Solution
Understand the Problem. There are many different ways. GSW
may have won three straight wins and three losses (WWWLLL), or
maybe they lost in the first three games and won in the last three
games (LLLWWW). Likewise, there are several orders.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Solution
Understand the Problem. There are many different ways. GSW
may have won three straight wins and three losses (WWWLLL), or
maybe they lost in the first three games and won in the last three
games (LLLWWW). Likewise, there are several orders.
Devise a Plan. One can organize a list of all the possibilities
making sure that no entry will be duplicated.
Carry Out the Plan. Three Ws must be present in every entry
without duplication. The strategy is to start the list with three
consecutive wins. Next in the list are all the entries starting with
two consecutive wins, then next in the list are all the entries
starting with a single win. Following this pattern, consider starting
with three consecutive losses and so on. Here are the different
orders.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Solution
1 WWWLLL 5 WLLLWW 9 LLLWWW 13 LWWWLL
2 WWLWLL 6 WLLWWL 10 LLWLWW 14 LWWLLW
3 WWLLWL 7 WLWWLL 11 LLWWLW 15 LWLLWW
4 WWLLLW 8 WLWLWL 12 LLWWWL 16 LWLWLW

Review the Solution. The list is organized and has no duplicated,

so there are sixteen different orders in which a basketball team can
win exactly three out of six games.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Example
Leonardo da Vinci was a famous artist during the renaissance
period. He wrote in his notebook that ”from the top to the
bottom of the chin is the sixth part of the face, and it is the
fifty-fourth part of the man.” Suppose the distance from the top
the bottom of the chin of the person is 1.2 inches. Using Leonardo
da Vinci’s measurements, find the height of the person.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Solution
Understand the Problem. Obviously, one needs to find the height
of the person in this problem.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Solution
Understand the Problem. Obviously, one needs to find the height
of the person in this problem.
Devise a Plan. Let x represent the unknown height of the person.
Write an equation satisfying da Vinci’s measurements.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Solution
Understand the Problem. Obviously, one needs to find the height
of the person in this problem.
Devise a Plan. Let x represent the unknown height of the person.
Write an equation satisfying da Vinci’s measurements.
Carry Out the Plan.
Let x = height of the person

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Solution
Understand the Problem. Obviously, one needs to find the height
of the person in this problem.
Devise a Plan. Let x represent the unknown height of the person.
Write an equation satisfying da Vinci’s measurements.
Carry Out the Plan.
Let x = height of the person
Equation:

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Solution
Understand the Problem. Obviously, one needs to find the height
of the person in this problem.
Devise a Plan. Let x represent the unknown height of the person.
Write an equation satisfying da Vinci’s measurements.
Carry Out the Plan.
Let x = height of the person
Equation:
1
x = 1.2
54

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Solution
Understand the Problem. Obviously, one needs to find the height
of the person in this problem.
Devise a Plan. Let x represent the unknown height of the person.
Write an equation satisfying da Vinci’s measurements.
Carry Out the Plan.
Let x = height of the person
Equation:
1
x = 1.2
54
x = 64.8in or 5.4ft

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Solution
Understand the Problem. Obviously, one needs to find the height
of the person in this problem.
Devise a Plan. Let x represent the unknown height of the person.
Write an equation satisfying da Vinci’s measurements.
Carry Out the Plan.
Let x = height of the person
Equation:
1
x = 1.2
54
x = 64.8in or 5.4ft
Thus, the person is 5.4 ft tall.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Solution
Understand the Problem. Obviously, one needs to find the height
of the person in this problem.
Devise a Plan. Let x represent the unknown height of the person.
Write an equation satisfying da Vinci’s measurements.
Carry Out the Plan.
Let x = height of the person
Equation:
1
x = 1.2
54
x = 64.8in or 5.4ft
Thus, the person is 5.4 ft tall.
Review the Solution. The solution is quite simple. Now check your
progress - follow Leonardo da Vinci’s measurements to find your
height.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Example
An agency charged P15,000 for a 3-day and 2-night tour in Macau
and P20,000 for the same tour with a side trip to Hong Kong
(HK). Ten persons joined the trip, which enable them to collect
P170,000. How many tourists made a side trip to Hong Kong?

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Solution
Understand the Problem. There are two types of tourists in the
situation given. Some purely stayed in Macau while others made a
side trip to HK. From the total collection, how much was the
amount collected from those who purely stayed in Macau and how
much was collected from those who made side trips to HK. It is
needed to know how many were bound for Macau who made a side
trip to HK.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Solution
Devise a Plan. Use x and y to represent the two types of tourists.
Define these variables. Let x be the number of tourists bound for
Macau alone and y be the number of tourists bound for Macau
but who made a side trip to Hong Kong. Hence, we have the
following algebraic equations:

P15,000x = amount collected from the tourists bound for Macau

alone
P20,000y = amount collected from the tourists bound for Macau
but who made a side trip to Hong Kong

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Solution
Carry Out the Plan. Write the equations and solve using the
elimination method to the system of equations.
Equations:
x + y = 10 (1)
15, 000x + 20, 000y = 170, 000 (2)
To find the number of tourists bound for Macau but who made a
side trip to HK, we solve for y .
To do this, we use elimination by substitution.
a. Solve for y in (1)
x + y = 10
y = 10 − x (3)

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Solution
b. Substitute y = 10 − x in equation (2)

15, 000x + 20, 000(10 − x) = 170, 000

15, 000x + 200, 000 − 20, 000x = 170, 000
−5, 000x = 170, 000 − 200, 000
−5, 000x = −30, 000
−30, 000
x=
−5, 000
x =6

Substituting x = 6 in equation (3), y = 4.

Therefore, four tourists made a side trip to Hong Kong.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning

 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Solution
Review the Solution. Since there are a total of 10 tourists, six of
them only stayed in Macau while four made a side trip to Hong
Kong. Now, 15,000(6) + 20,000(4) = 170,000. This satisfies the
condition that the total amount collected for the whole trip is
P170,000.

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 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Some problems cannot be solved using ordinary equations. For

example, June 3, 2017 was a Saturday. What day of the week in
June 3, 2020? A week is a cycle and problems of this type can be
solved using arithmetic modulo n.
Definition (Modulo n)
Two integers a and b are said to be congruent modulo n, with n
a−b
being a natural number, if is an integer. In this case, we
n
write a ≡ b mod n. The number n is called the modulus. The
statement a ≡ b mod n is called a congruence.

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 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Example
In 2017, Venus’ birthday fell on a Saturday, June 3. On what day
of the week does Venus’ birthday fall in 2020? Note that the year
2020 is a leap year.

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 Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Problem Solving With Patterns
Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Solution
The number of days in a year is 365 except when it is a leap year
where there’s one day added. How many days are there after June
3, 2017 to June 3, 2020?
Number of days:
After June 3, 2017 to June 3, 2018: 365
After June 3, 2018 to June 3, 2019: 365
After June 3, 2019 to June 3, 2020: 366 (leap year)
Total: 1096
Because 1096 ÷ 7 = 156 has a remainder 4, the we write
1096 ≡ 4 mod 7. Since a week is a cycle, then any multiple of 7
days past a given day will be the same day of the week. It means
that on the 1092nd day, 1092 being a multiple of 7, after June 3,
2017 is also a Saturday. Furthermore, on the 1096th day, four days
after, is a Wednesday. Thus, June 3, 2020 will be a Wednesday.

Jonwille Mark Castro Problem Solving and Reasoning