GRACE MISSION COLLEGE

Catiningan, Socorro, Oriental Mindoro

e-Mail: [email protected]

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

-Proverbs 1:7

Module 3 in MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

PROBLEM SOLVING AND REASONING

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After completing this module, the students must be able to:

a. Define inductive reasoning, conjecture, and counterexamples.
b. Solve problem using inductive reasoning.

c. Define deductive reasoning.

d. Solve logic puzzles using deduction.

e. Solve Ken Ken puzzle and Magic Square puzzle.

f. Solve cryptarithms.
g. Use Polya’s problem solving strategy in problem solving.

INTRODUCTION
Problem solving has always been part of everyone’s life every day. From making choices on
what food to eat or what clothes to wear, the easiest way to get to school or to the workplace to the
fastest way to finish a task. In dealing with it scheming is necessary. And once solved, it brings joy to
the one who did the scheming.
Mathematical problems can be treated similarly as an ordinary real-life problem. The only
difference is that in depth analysis with a well-defined procedure is involved. This is the purpose of this
chapter. It features varying types of mathematical problems and the different ways of solving them.

CONCEPTS INVOLVE IN SOLVING MATHEMATICAL PROBLEMS BY

INDUCTIVE REASONING

1. Conjecture is an educated guess based upon repeated observations of a particular

process or pattern.

2. Induction is characterized by drawing a general conclusion from repeated

observations of specific examples. the conjecture may or may not be true.
 3. Sequence is a list of numbers or objects in a special order.

4. The nth term of a sequence is a representation of the sequence in the form

of a mathematical expression using literal numbers.

5. Finite differences in finding the degree of the polynomial:

a. Write down the original sequence.
b. Get the first layer difference. This is done by finding the difference between the
two consecutive terms in the original sequence. If a common difference occurs in
this layer, then the sequence is represented by a linear form 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏.
c. If the differences in the first layer difference are distinct, then obtain the second
layer difference. This is obtained by taking the difference between the two
consecutive terms in the first layer difference. If a common difference is obtained
in this second layer, then the sequence is represented by a quadratic form 𝑎𝑥2 + 𝑏𝑥
+ 𝑐.
d. Again, if the differences in the second layer difference are distinct, then obtain the
third layer difference. This is obtained by taking the difference between the two
consecutive terms in the second layer difference. If a common difference is
obtained in this third layer, then the sequence is represented by a cubic form 𝑎𝑥3 +
𝑏𝑥2 + 𝑐𝑥 + 𝑑.
e. Note that the process goes on until the common difference is obtained and the
degree of the polynomial representing the original sequence is determined by the
degree of the layer having common difference.
6. Counterexample is a case for which a statement is not true.

CONCEPTS INVOLVE IN SOLVING MATHEMATICAL PROBLEMS BY

INDUCTIVE REASONING
1. Deductive reasoning is the process of reaching a conclusion by applying general
assumptions, procedures, or principles.
2. Logic puzzle is a format in which the set-up to a scenario is given, as well as the object,
certain clues are given, and then the reader fills out a matrix with the clues and attempts to
deduce the solution. This is also called a logic grid puzzle.
3. Common number sequence:
a. Arithmetic sequence is a list of numbers with common difference.
b. Geometric sequence is a list of numbers with common ratio.
c. Triangular number sequence is generated from a pattern of dots that form a triangle.
d. Square numbers are the results of multiplying an integer by itself.
e. Cube numbers are the results of multiplying an integer by itself three times,
f. Fibonacci sequence is a list of numbers whose next term is obtained by summing
up the two preceding terms in the sequence.
KENKEN PUZZLE AND MAGIC SQUARE

Procedure in Solving KenKen puzzle

Fill in each square cell in the puzzle with numbers between 1 to the size of the grid. For example, If
the puzzle has a grid of 4x4 then the numbers to be used are numbers from 1 to 4.
Use the number exactly once in each row and each column.
The numbers in each cage, which is indicated by the heavy lines, must combine in any order to
produce the cage’s target number using the indicated math operation in a cage. Numbers in the
cage may be repeated for as long as the second rule (rule b) is not violated.
Each puzzle can be solved completely using only logical deduction. Note that harder puzzles require
more complex deduction.
Procedure in Solving Ken Ken puzzle
A. Magic Square having Odd Grid
a.1. Determine the number of cells in a grid of nxn Magic Square, where n is an odd number. In a grid of
5x5 Magic Square the number of cells is 25. This number tells that the numbers to be used in filling out
the cells in the puzzle are the numbers from 1 through 25.
Determine the magic number by summing up all the numbers to be used in solving the puzzle and
dividing it by n, the numbers of cells in a side of the Magic Square. In a grid of 5x5 Magic Square for
instance, we add the numbers 1 to 25 and after summing up we divide it by 5. Thus, the magic number
is 65. This means that the sum of each row, column and main diagonal is 65.
Construct an imaginary cell above the first row and beside the right most side of the Magic Square as
follows:

a.4 Fill out the cells using the numbers 1 through 25 in succession. Begin by
placing the first number, 1, in the middle of the first row of the original
Magic Square. then continue moving diagonally to the right to place the next
number. If the pink cell above is encountered, place the number to the
bottom most cell in the same column and continue moving. When the pink
cell on the right of the Magic Square is encountered, place the number to the
left most side of the row and place the number there. Continue moving
diagonally to right. Now if one encountered an occupied white cell while
moving diagonally to the right, place the number right down below the cell
where the previous number was placed. Continue moving in the same
direction and when the intersection of the pink row and pink column is
encountered, place the number right down below the cell where the previous
number was placed. Continue moving in the same direction till the cells of
the magic square are filled out. The result of doing the process is as follows:
 17 24 1 8 15
23 5 7 14 16
4 6 13 20 22
10 12 19 21 3
11 18 25 2 9

B. Magic Square having Even Grid

b.1 Determine the number of cells in a grid of nxn Magic Square, where n is an
even number. In a grid of 4x4 Magic Square the number of cells is 16. This
number tells that the numbers to be used in filling out the cells in the puzzle
are the numbers from 1 through 16.
b.2 Determine the magic number by summing up all the numbers to be used in
solving the puzzle and dividing it by n, the numbers of cells in a side of the
Magic Square. In a grid of 4x4 Magic Square for instance, we add the
numbers 1 to 16 and after summing up we divide it by 4. Thus, the magic
number is 34. This means that the sum of each row, column and main
diagonal is 34.
b.3 Solving Magic Square, having an even grid is very complicated. The website
wikihow.com provided strategies on solving magic squares. Visit the link
https://www.wikihow.com/Solve-a-Magic-Square, to find out strategies for solving
magic squares having an even grid.

CRYPTARITHM

Cryptarithm is a mathematics puzzle, which can be solved by performing basic

mathematics operations, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, with letters in the
English alphabet. Each letter in the puzzle represents a digit from 0 through 9.

POLYA’S PROBLEM SOLVING STRATEG

Polya’s Four-Step Problem Solving Strategy
Understand the problem
Devise a plan
Carry out the plan
Review the solution
Problem: Our SK chairman in our barangay will be holding a volleyball tournament, consisting of 8
teams coming from the different puroks of barangay. These 8 teams will play each of the other teams
exactly 3 times. How many league games will be played?

Task 1 │Solving Mathematical Problems by Inductive Reasoning

 C. Solve the following problems by induction:
1. Think of a positive number. Multiply it by 4. Add 8 to the result. Divide the
new result by 2. On the table below, list down the numbers you thought of and the
result of performing the indicated mathematical operation.

Number being thought of

Result of performing the
math operations
2. Study the table carefully and find the formula to find the number being thought of easily.
3. Find the units digit of 71997.
4. Ancient Filipinos exchange their gold for porcelain wares and jade of the
Chinese. The exchange rate are as follows:
2 pieces of gold = 20 pieces of jade
15 pieces of gold = 6 baskets of jade
10 baskets of jade = 1 bowlful of gold
How many pieces of jade are there in 1 bowlful of gold?
5. One cut of a metal rod produces two pieces of metal rods. Two cuts produce three
pieces. three cuts produce four pieces. How many pieces are produced in 7 and 9
cuts? Predict the nth term formula for the number of pieces of metal rods that are
produced by n cuts of a metal rod.

Task 2 │Solving Mathematical Problems by Deductive Reasoning

A. Find the first three terms of the sequence whose nth terms is as follows:
1. 4n2 - 1
2. n3 - 3n + 4
1
3.
n + 2n
2

1
n
4.
(2n)

5. 3n-1

B. Solve the following problems by deduction:

1. Use deductive reasoning to show that the following produces always the number 3.
Pick a number. Add 5 to it. Subtract 7 from the result. Subtract twice the original number
from the previous result.
2. Use deductive reasoning to show that the following produces always the original number
increased by 2.
3. Pick a number. Multiply it by 4. Add 8 to it. Divide the result by 4. Four friends Sheldon,
Raj, Leonard and Howard decided to invest their 50,000 dollars savings in stocks. Each
chooses a different stock. One chooses a blue chip stock, another a growth stock, the
other chooses an income stock and another chooses a penny stock. From the following
clues, determine who bought which stock.
 a. Sheldon and the owner of the blue chip stock purchased their shares through
an online brokerage, while Raj and the owner of the growth stock did not.
b. The gain in value of Leonard’s stocks is twice the gain in the value of the growth
stock.
c. The income stock is traded on American Stock Exchange, whereas the stock
that Raj bought is trades on the Chicago Stock Exchange
4. Four friends Sheldon, Raj, Leonard and Howard decided to invest their 50,000 dollars
savings in stocks. Each chooses a different stock. One chooses a blue chip stock,
another a growth stock, the other chooses an income stock and another chooses a
penny stock. From the following clues, determine who bought which stock.
a. Sheldon and the owner of the blue chip stock purchased their shares through
an online brokerage, while Raj and the owner of the growth stock did not.
b. The gain in value of Leonard’s stocks is twice the gain in the value of the growth
stock.
c. The income stock is traded on American Stock Exchange, whereas the stock
that Raj bought is trades on the Chicago Stock Exchange
5. Three chess players, Garry , Anatoly and Vishy competed for fun. Two of them won
and one lost. Determine who won and lost by using the following clues:
a. Anatoly won his match, if Garry lost his match.
b. If Garry won his match, then Vishy lost his match.
c. Anatoly lost his match, if Vishy won his match.

Task 3 │Cryptharithm

Direction: Each letter in the cryptarithm represents one of the digits 0 through 9. Determine which
digit is represented by each of the letters in the given cryptarithm.

1. KL
x C C
KL
+KLF
CFAL

2. BE
x EB
BE
+BBA
BCDE

3. PQRS
+TQRQ
PUVPV
 4. AHA
x Y E S_
MORE
+ T YSE
ERUO
EEMYEE

5. ONE
ONE
+ ONE
ONE
TEN

Task 3 │Polyas Problem Solving Strategy

A. Solve the following using Polya’s problem solving strategy.

1. How many varieties of pizza flavors can be made from 4 meat toppings, 2 kinds of
mushroom, 4 kinds of cheese and 3 fruits?
2. How many plate numbers consisting of three letters and three digits can be created
using the letters in the English alphabet and the digits from 0 to 9?
3. Mario and Luigi are on their way from work to home. Mario runs half the time and
walks half the time. Luigi runs half the distance and walks half the distance. If both
Mario and Luigi walk and run at the same speed, who arrives home first?
4. In a volleyball league consisting of 10 teams, each team plays each of the other teams
exactly twice. How many league games will be played?
5. In how many ways can you change a 20-peso bill using the 1-peso coins, 5-peso
coins, and 10- peso coins.