TIPS AND STRATEGIES IN SOLVING

MATHEMATICAL PROBLEMS

(REPORTER/S: EVELYN DELPOSO and JOCELYN

OBIEDO)
 TIPS AND STRATEGIES IN SOLVING
MATHEMATICAL PROBLEMS
1. Round off and estimate whenever possible.
Simplify your calculations 3,978 x 289
can be rounded off to 4,000 x 300. Then if
only one of the answer choices is slightly
less than 1,200,000.
2. Look for shortcuts. These are often built into
problems. For example, you know that an odd
number multiplied by an odd number will give
you and odd number. If only one of the answer
choices is an odd number, it has to be the right
answer.

3. DO not panic if a question has an unusual

symbol. Replace the symbol with the specially
designed definition that accompanies the
symbol.
4. Work in consistent units. If one side of a
square measures 30inches and the other
measures 2 feet, don’t try multiplying until you
have both measurements in feet or in inches.

5. Have important rules and formulas at your

fingertips. Use the information supplied at the
top of the first page of each mathematics
section. Or better yet, memorize these and
other important facts and formulas before the
test date.
6. Read the question carefully. DO not assume
anything that is not actually stated. Some questions
are not similar to questions you usually encounter in
regular mat classes.

7. Beware of positive and negative number. If the

problem does not specifically state that the value of an
unknown is positive, then it could also be negative. The
square root of a number can be positive or negative.

8. Use your time wisely. If you absolutely have no idea

on how to solve a particular problem, do not waste
time on it. Circle it and leave it. If you have time at the
end of the tests, you can go back and try again.
9. Avoid lengthily computation. None of the questions on
the test will require terribly complicated computations. If
you find yourself about to start on a long string of
complicated computations. To solve a problem, you are
doing something wrong. Either you missed a shortcut, or
you are solving the wrong problem. Read the question
again.

10. Use the exam booklet wisely. Don’t try to do all

computations in your head. Write in the test booklet. Mark
up any diagrams if it will help you.

11. Check the diagrams. The diagrams may be drawn

accurately or they may be accompanied by a statement
saying that figure is not drawn to scale. In the alter case
12. Be on the look out for irrelevant material in a word
problem. There probably will be at least one question that
gives you more information that you need. Don’t assume
that you have to use it all to solve the problem. If what you
need is how many people were wearing red hats, it does
not matter how many were wearing blue shoes.

13. Don’t rush to get the most challenging problems.

Questions get harder as you go along in the math section.

14. Don’t hesitate to work back from the answers. On this

test you don’t have to show how you arrive at the answer.
First plug in the answer which is easiest to try. Usually this
is the correct choice.
15. DO not panic when you are faced with
mathematical terminology. Try putting the
problem into simpler words. “S” is a set of
integers on the number line1-100 inclusive “just
means” S is all the numbers from I through 100.”

16. Substitute for unknowns, if necessary, If you

are having trouble solving a problem with several
unknowns, try substituting simple number for the
unknowns.
 MATHEMATICS REVIEW
=
equals
sy
m ≠ Is not equal to
bo
SYMBOLS
> is greater than
ls
< is less than

≥ is greater than or equal

to
_ is congruent to

≈ is similar to

│ is perpendicular to

║ is parallel to
± plus or minus
 Important Definitions
 Sum is the result of addition.
 Difference is the result of subtraction.
 Product is the result of multiplication.
 Important Definitions

In division,

Divident Quotient+ Remainder

___________ = ____________________
Divisor Divisor
• A fraction is an indicated division
• A decimal is an implied fraction a denominator of 10,
100,1000.. .. . . .
• A Percent is a fraction with a denominator of 100
• A Ratio compares two quantities by dividing one by the
other.
• A Proportion is an equation, both sides of which are
fractions.
• A Positive number is one that is greater than zero, a
Negative number is one that is less than zero. The meaning
and the use of signed numbers are basic in the study of
Algebra.
Positive numbers are preceded by a plus sign (+); negative
numbers, a minus sign (-).
 Arithmetic Concepts
• Any quantity multiplied by zero is (x. 0 =0)
• Any quantity = 4, except zero raised to the
zero power is 1 (xº =1 if x=0)

If x2 then x= +2 or -2

Any fraction multiplied by its reciprocal equals 1:

(x/y) (y/x) = 1.
Odd and Even Numbers
• Even + odd = even
• Odd + odd = odd
• Even + odd = odd
• Even x even = even
• Even x odd = even
• Odd x odd = odd
FUNDAMENTAL OPERATIONS
WHOLE NUMBERS

(REPORTER/S: RANULFO ALIVIADO)

 FUNDAMENTAL OPERATIONS
Whole Numbers

• Number is an idea of a given quantity.

• Numeral is a symbol to represent a number.
• A digit is any numeral from 0 to 9 and can represent
different numbers depending on its position. This is
called the place value.
• The Factors of a given number are numbers which
when multiplied together from the given number.

Example: The complete set of factors of 15 are 1, 3, 5

• Prime factors are those numbers which have no other
factors except one and itself.

Example: The prime factor of 36 are 2,2,3,3 is a symbol to

represent a number.

• The Greatest Common Factor is the largest common

factor of two or more
numbers. It is the product of all the prime factors which
they have in common.

Example: Find the GCF of 25 and 125

25= 5 x 5
125 = 5 x 5 x 5, therefore the GCF is 5 x 5 = 25
 ADDITION
The numbers that are to be added are called addends.
The number resulting in the addition of these numbers is
called the sum of the numbers.

Example:
45
395
+ 4396
890
____________________
 SUBSTRACTION
Minuend is the number from which another is to be
subtracted. Subtrahend is the number to be subtracted.
Difference is the answer or the result in the process of
subtraction.

Example:
5283 minuend
-
4997 subtrahend
____________
 MULTIPLICATION
Multiplicand refers to the number to be multiplied. Multiplier
refers to the number of times another number is to be
multiplied. Product is the answer in the process of
multiplication.
Example:
1937 Multiplicand
X
86 Multiplier
__________
11622
15496
__________
 DIVISION
Dividend refers to the number to be divided into
equal groups. Divisor refers to the size of each group.
Quotient refers to the number of groups resulting
from division
Example:
54,528 ÷ 64 = 852
↓ ↓ ↓
Dividend divisor quotient
 Multiples
The multiples of a number are those numbers that are
divisible by the given number.
Characteristics:
1. A number has an infinite number of multiples.
2. A number is always a multiple of itself.

Example:
The multiples of 3 are 3,6,9,12,15,18,21,24 . . .
 Divisibility are ways of quickly determining
factors without having to perform a
complete division.

Divisibility Test for 2

A number divisible by 2 is an even number.
Example: 300, 12, 254, 1008

Divisibility Test for 3

A number is divisible by 3 if the sum of the digits of the
number is divisible by 3.
Example: 186585 is divisible by 3 because
Divisibility Test for 4
A number is divisible by 4 if the number formed by its last 2 digits is
divisible by 4.

Example: 128 & 524 are divisible, by 4 since 28 and 24 are divisible by 4.

Divisibility Test for 5

If the ones digit is 0 or 5, then the number is divisible by 5.
Example: 300, 505, 2090 are divisible by 5.

Divisibility Test for 6

A number is divisible by 6 if it is an even number and divisible by 3.

Example: 634128 is an even number. It is divisible by 3 since

6+3+4+1+2+8=2
Divisibility Test for 7
Steps:
1. Double the last digit.
2. Subtract the product in step 1 from the number without the last digit.
3. If the difference is a multiple for 7, then the number is divisible by 7.
Note: If the difference is big, repeat steps 1 to 3.

Example: Is 6853 divisible by 7?

Solution:
1. 3(2) =6
3.(Repeat 1 & 2) 9(2)=18
2. 685-6=679
4. 67-18=49 is divisible by 7,
Divisibility Test for 8
If the last 3 digits of a number is divisible by 8, then the number is divisible by 8.

Example: Is 4912 a multiple of 8?

The last 3 digit is 912 & 912 = (114)(8). Therefore, 912 is divisible by 8 and 4912 is divisible
Divisibility for 9
A number is divisible by 9 if the sum of its digits is a multiple of 9.

Example: 845721 is divisible by 9 because 8+4+5+7+3+1 = 27 and 27 is a

multiple of 7

Divisibility for 10
If any number except 0 end in 0, the number is divisible by 10.

Example: 3,000, 10,000, 000, 200, 500 are divisible by 10

Divisibility for 11
A number is divisible by 11 if after subtracting and adding the digits
successively, the answer is divisible by 11.

Example: Is 4972 divisible by 11?

 ORDER OF OPERATIONS
Very often two or more numbers are grouped
together to indicate that they are to be considered
together as a single number. To avoid confusion,
grouping, grouping symbols are used.

The grouping symbols are:

() parenthesis
[] brackets
{} braces
─ vinculum
 ORDER OF OPERATIONS
Rules:
1. Simplify expression inside parentheses and other grouping symbols
first.
2. Do multiplication and division next, in the order they occur that is,
from left to right.
3. Do addition and subtraction last, in the order they occur, that is from
left to right.
In short, you can remember this by using the mnemonic “Please Mind
Dear Aunt
Sally’. The first letters will remind you of “Parentheses, Multiplication
and Division,
Addition and Subtraction.’ (PMDAS)

Example:
EXPONENTS AND POWERS
An exponent is the number that indicates how many
times a whole number is used as a
factor.
Example:
25=2x2x2x2x2
FRACTIONS
The symbol a/b, where a,b are the elements of whole
nos. and b ≠ 0, is called a fraction.
The number above the bar is the numerator and the
number below the bar is the denominator. The word
fraction if derived from the latin word fraction,
 Kind of Fractions:
1. Proper Fractions – is a fraction in which the numerator is less than
the denominator.
Example: 1/3, 2/3, 15/28, 105/201

2. Improper fraction – A fraction in which the numerator is greater

than the denominator.
Example: 5/2, 25/8, 128/121

3. Mixed Fractions – is composed of a whole number and a fraction.

Example: 2 1/3, 3 2/5, 15 16/17, 100 25/31

4. Equivalent Fraction – fractions that show the same value.

Example: 2/5 = 8/20, 16/20 = 32/40, 101/120 = 303/360
 Addition and Substraction
Adding and Subtracting Fractions with similar or Like
Denominators
• To add or subtract fractions with similar or like
denominators, add or subtract the numerators. Write
the sum or difference over the common
denominator.

Examples:
1. 14/27 + 11/27 = 25/27

2. 7/18 - 4/18 = 3/18 or 1/6

 Adding and Subtracting Frantions with
Dissimilar or Unlike Denominators
1. Find the leat common denominator (LCD)
2. Change each fraction to equivalent fraction using LCD.
3. Add or subtract the numberators and write the result over the LCD
4. If necessary, reduce the answer to lowest terms.

Example: Calculate 4 ¼ + 2 4/5 – 1 1/3

4 ¼ = 4 15/60
+ 2 4/5 = +2 48/60
- 1 1/3 + -1 20/60
__________________________
 Multiplication and Rules for Multiplying Mixed
Numbers
Division
Rules for Multiplying 1. Change each mixd number to an
Fractions improper fraction
2. Multiply the numerators.
To multiply two fractions, 3. Place the result over the product of the
multiply the numerators denominators.
and multiply the 4. Express the answer as a mixed number
denominators. or as a proper fraction reduced to lowest
terms.
Write the product of the
numerators over the Rules for Dividing Fractions
product of the
denominators. If necessary,
If a, b, c and d are all real numbersm and if
reduce the answer to
b≠ 0, c≠0, d≠-, then a/b ÷ c/d = a/b x d/c
 DECIMALS
A decimal fraction is a fraction whose denominator can be
expressed as a power
of ten.

To add Decimals To Subtract Decimals

1. Write the numbers to be subtracted
1. Write the numbers to be added vertically such that the decimal points are
vertically and line up the decimal in a column.
points. 2. If the number of decimal places in the
2. Add all digits with the same subtrahend exceeds that in the minuend,
place value, beginning with the insert the necessary number of zeros to
rightmost column. the right of the last decimal place in the
minuend.
3. Be sure to place a decimal point
3. Subtract all digits with the same place
in the sum in the correct location value, beginning with the rightmost
column and regroup when necessary.
4. Write the decimal point in the
difference. This should be in line with the
other decimal points.
TO MULTIPLY DECIMALS
and
TO DIVIDE DECIMALS

(REPORTER/s: MARILYN AMAHAN

and ALDRIN RUIZ)
 To Divide Decimals
To Multiply Decimals
1. Move the decimal point in the
divisor up to the necessary
1. Calculate the product, in number of places to the right to
the same manner as whole make it a whole number.
numbers. 2. Move the decimal point in the
2. Put a decimal point in the dividend to the same number of
appropriate location so that places to the right.
the number of decimals 3. Put a decimal point in the
places in the product equals quotient immediately above the
the sum of the number of new decimal point in the
dividend.
decimal places in all the
factors. 4. Proceed with the technique for
dividing whole numbers, take
note of the location of the
decimal point in the quotient.
INTEGERS
The set of integers consists of the positive whole numbers, negative whole
numbers, and zero. { . . . . , -5, -4 , -3, -2 , -1 ,0 ,1 ,2 ,3 , 4 ,5 . . . }

Examples:
+45 or 45 ‘Positive forty-five’
-57 ‘negative fifty-seven’
0 ‘Zero’
THE NUMBER LINE

Negative Integers Positive Integers

For any numbers a, the opposite of a is denoted by –a.

Examples: The opposite of 100 is -100

 OPERATIONS ON INTEGERS
Addition Subtraction

1. if the addends have the

same signs, add the numbers 1. In subtracting signed
disregarding the signs. The numbers, change the sign of
sign of the sum will be the the subtrahend then proceed
common sign of the addends. to addition of integers.
If the addends are of
different signs, subtract the
smaller number from the
larger
number and write the sign of
the larger number.
 OPERATIONS ON INTEGERS
Multiplication Division
1. When two numbers 1. In dividing numbers of
of the same signs are the same signs, their
multiplied, the quotient is a positive
product is positive. number.
2. When two numbers 2. In dividing numbers of
of opposite signs are different signs, their
multiplied, the quotient is a negative
product is negative. number.
 Cognitive Reasoning and Problem Solving
The process of finding patterns is not quick or direct as following a recipe or list of instructions.
It requires the concept of sequence.

A sequence is a set of numbers in a particular order. The numbers in a sequence

are called terms of the sequence. If we have the sequence 1,3,5,7,9 . . . The first term in
1, the second term is 3, the third is 5 and so on.

Example :
Given the following sequence of letters, A, C, D, F, G, I
What are the next two letters?

Solution:
To discover the pattern for this problem, let us look at the first nine letters of the
English alphabet, A B C D E F G H I, Let us cross out those letters that are not included in the
sequence, A B C D E F G H I. Following this pattern, J should come after I. Then we should skip K
and write L. A B C D E F G H I J K L. Hence, the two succeeding letters are J and I.

From the examples shown, it is seen that patterns involve not only numbers, but also non-
mathematical objects like letters, words, and figures.
Reasoning based on patterns is sometimes called cognitive reasoning. Students often
use cognitive reasoning when they answer tests. Employees also often use this type of
reasoning in the performance of their jobs. All of us, in one way or another, use
cognitive reasoning in our daily lives.
A collection of numbers arranged in order from left to right, such that there is a first
term, second term, etc, and are separated by commas, is called a number sequence.
Example:
What are the next three terms of this sequence?
1, 1, 2,4, 8, 16 ,32 ,64
Solution:
The first term, I and the second term, 1, are equal but the third term is 2, which may
be treated as the sum of the forst two terms. Considering the sums of the terms, we
have
1+1=2
And if we add the first, the second, and the third terms, we have 1 + 1 + 2 = 4, which is
fourth term. Continuing the pattern 1 + 1 + 2 + 4= 8, fifth term 1 + 1 + 2 + 4 + 8 = 16,
sixth term 1 + 1 + 2 + 4 + 8 + 16 = 32, seventh term
1 + 1 + 2+ 4 + 8 + 16 + 32 = 64,eight term
Hence for the next three terms, 64 + 64 = 128 ninth term 128 + 128 =256 10th term
256 + 256 = 512, eleventh term
 READING FOR UNDERSTANDING AND ANALYSIS

Objectives
Analyze the problem to be solved step by step with the aid of a picture
or a diagram. Sometimes a math problem looks more difficult than it
really is. You must understand the problem before you attempt to solve
it. It often helps to rewrite the problem using only the important
information. This makes it easier to figure out what you must do.

Guideline for comprehension

1. Jot down the key words or phrases.
2. Write down what is being asked for.
3. Restate what you have read in your own words.
4. Prepare a visual representation
 PLANE GEOMETRY

Plane geometry deals with shapes like lines, circles and triangles . . .
shapes that can be drawn on a flat surface called a Plane.
 Glossary of Gemometric Terms
Line
A line is one of the basic terms in geometry. We may
think of a line as a “straight”
Line that we might draw with a ruler on a piece of
paper, except that in geometry, a line extends forever
in both directions. We write the name of a line
passing through two different points A and B as “ line
AB”, the two headed arrow over AB signifying a line
passing through points A and B.
Example: The following is a diagram of two lines: line AB
and line HG