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Lesson-2.2-Polyas-Four-Step-in-Problem-Solving

This lesson outlines Polya's four-step problem-solving strategy, which includes understanding the problem, devising a plan, carrying out the plan, and looking back to verify the solution. Students will learn to apply these steps to solve various mathematical problems effectively. The document also provides examples to illustrate the application of Polya's strategy in different scenarios.

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Jaymar Tudio
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14 views

Lesson-2.2-Polyas-Four-Step-in-Problem-Solving

This lesson outlines Polya's four-step problem-solving strategy, which includes understanding the problem, devising a plan, carrying out the plan, and looking back to verify the solution. Students will learn to apply these steps to solve various mathematical problems effectively. The document also provides examples to illustrate the application of Polya's strategy in different scenarios.

Uploaded by

Jaymar Tudio
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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LESSON 2.

2
POLYA’S PROBLEM-
SOLVING STRATEGY
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this lesson, the students will be able to:
1. Enumerate and discuss Polya’s Stages on Problem Solving
2. Solve problems involving using Polya’s four steps.
3. Organize one’s methods and approaches for proving and solving
problems.
POLYA’S FOUR-STEP IN
PROBLEM SOLVING
PROCESS
Systematic process for solving
problems
George Polya
was a mathematician educator who strongly believed
that the skill of a problem solving can be taught. He
identified four basic principles on problem solving.
POLYA’S FOUR-STEP IN PROBLEM
SOLVING PROCESS

4 Look back

3 Carry out the Plan

2 Devise a Plan

1 Understand the Problem


Understand the
Problem

Step 1
1 U nderstand the Problem
• State the problem in your own word
• Pinpoint exactly what is being asked
• Identify the unknowns
• Figure out what the problem tells you is important
• Identify any irrelevant information
1 U nderstand the Problem
Main Questions:
• What do I know?
• What do I need to know?
D Plan
Step 2
2 Devise a Plan
• Find the connection between the data and the
unknown.
• Try to think of a familiar problem having the
same or a similar unknown.
• Select an appropriate strategy to solve the
problem.
2 Devise a Plan
• Working backwards
• Guess and Check
Some
• Make a table, diagram or chart
Strategies
• Write an equation
• Divide and Conquer
3
3 Carry out the Plan
• Keep a record of your steps as you
implement your strategy from step 2.
• Can you see clearly that the step is correct?
• Can you prove that it is correct?
• The main key is to be patient and careful, even
if we have necessary skills.
Look Back

Step 4
4 Look back
• Check your work.
• Does the answer makes sense?
• Ensure that all the conditions related to the
problem are met.
Example 1:
Alex is buying an ice-cream cone. There are six
different flavors of ice cream for her to choose
from: chocolate, strawberry, banana, mango, vanilla,
and double-dutch, but she can only fit two flavors
on her cone. What different choices does she
have?
Step 1: Understand the Problem

What do I know?
There are six different flavors: chocolate,
strawberry, banana, mango, vanilla, and double-
dutch, but only two can fit on the cone.

What do I need to know?


I have to find the number of combinations with
two flavors Alex can choose from.
Step 2: Devise a Plan

Select an appropriate strategy


We can use make a diagram strategy by
creating a tree diagram to find out the number of
combinations by connecting the flavors.
Step 3: Carry out the Plan

Solution:
Let: C denotes the chocolate flavor
S denotes strawberry flavor
B denotes banana flavor
M denotes mango flavor
V denotes vanilla flavor, and
D denotes double-dutch flavor
3 Carry out the Plan
By making a diagram strategy:
S
B B M
C M S M B V
V V D
D D

Thus, there are 15


V combinations Alex
M V D can choose from.
D
Step 4: Look back

To check our work, we have to make sure


that we did not miss any flavor and no
repeating flavors in the combinations.
Example 2:
A man was making out his will. He had
P1,600,000 to divide among his three sons.
The oldest son was to get P200,000 more
than the middle son. The middle son was to
get P100,000 more than the youngest son.
How much did each son get?
Step 1: Understand the Problem

What do I know?
A man divides P1,600,000 to his three sons. The oldest
son was to get P200,000 more than the middle son, the
middle son was to get P100,000 more than the younger
son.
What do I need to know?
I have to find the amount of money each of them can get.
Step 2: Devise a Plan

Strategy:
We will make equations out from the given facts.
Step 3 Carry out the Plan
Solution:
We let:
𝑥 be the money for the youngest son
𝑥 + 𝑃100,000 be the money for the 2nd son
(𝑥 + 𝑃100,000) + 𝑃200,000 be the money for the
1st son.
3 Carry out the Plan

𝑃1,600,000 = 𝑥 + 𝑥 + 𝑃100,000 +
[ 𝑥 + 𝑃100,000 + 𝑃200,000]
= 𝑥 + 𝑥 + 𝑥 + (𝑃400,000)
= 3𝑥 + 𝑃400,000
3𝑥 = 𝑃1,600,000 − 𝑃400,000
3𝑥 = 𝑃1,200,000
𝒙 = 𝑷𝟒𝟎𝟎, 𝟎𝟎𝟎
3 Carry out the Plan

Substitute the value of x; 𝑥 = 𝑷𝟒𝟎𝟎, 𝟎𝟎𝟎


x + 𝑃100,000 = 𝑃400,000 + 𝑃100,000
= 𝑷𝟓𝟎𝟎, 𝟎𝟎𝟎
𝑥 + 𝑃100,000 + 𝑃200,000
= 𝑃400,000 + 𝑃100,000 + 𝑃200,000
= 𝑷𝟕𝟎𝟎, 𝟎𝟎𝟎
3 Carry out the Plan

Therefore, each of them can get:


P𝟒𝟎𝟎, 𝟎𝟎𝟎 for the youngest son
P𝟓𝟎𝟎, 𝟎𝟎𝟎 for the middle son
P𝟕𝟎𝟎, 𝟎𝟎𝟎 for the oldest son
Step 4 Look back
The middle son was to get P100,000 more than the
youngest son, so,
P500,000– 𝑃400,000 = 𝑃100,000
The oldest son was to get P200,000 more than the middle
son, so,
P700,000 − 𝑃500,000 = 𝑃200,000

And, P400,000 + 𝑃500,000 + 𝑃700,000 = 𝑃1, 600,000


Example 3:
There are three siblings Sofia, Angela and
Riana. Sofia gave Angela and Riana as much
money as each had. Then Angela gave Sofia
and Riana as much money each had. Then
Riana gave Sofia and Angela as much money
as each had. Then each of three has 128
pesos. How much money did each have
originally?
Step 1: Understand the Problem
What do I know?
Sofia gave Angela and Riana as much money as each had.
Then Angela gave Sofia and Riana as much money each
had. Then Riana gave Sofia and Angela as much money as
each had. Each128 pesos in the end.
What do I need to know?
I have to find the amount each of them had originally.
Step 2: Devise a Plan
Strategy: Use working backwards strategy.

Step 3 Carry out the Plan


In the end they each have 128 pesos.
Third transaction: Riana gave Sofia and Angela as much
money as each had.
Riana 128+64+64=256
Sofia 128-64=64
Angela 128-64=64
Step 3 Carry out the Plan
Second transaction: Angela gave Sofia and Riana as much
money each had.
Riana 256-128=128
Sofia 64-32=32
Angela 64+128+32=224
First transaction: Sofia gave Angela and Riana as much
money as each had.
Riana 128-64=64
Sofia 32+64+112=208
Angela 224-112=112
Step 3 Carry out the Plan

Therefore,
• Riana had 64 pesos
• Sofia had 208 pesos
• Angela had 112 pesos
Step 4 Look back
Check if all the conditions are met.
TIME…
Solve the following problems using Polya’s four steps in problem
solving.
1. In a basketball game, the number of points scored by
the Miners was equal to 20 less than twice their
opponent’s score. The total number of points scored
was 127. What was Miners’ total score?

2. Rick and Daryl left Hilltop at 9:00 AM. Daryl is riding a


motorbike at the rate of 65 kph due north and Rick
on a car travels east at 80 kph. How far are they from
each other at 11:00 AM?

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