MATH PROBLEM SOLVING

STRATEGIES

CCE.109. Teaching Problem

Solving

Submitted to: Prof. Rogelio S. Junio

Submitted by: Defeo, Mary Ann H.
BEED IV-2
 PROBLEM SOLVING
Is a mathematical process. As such it is to
be found in the Strand
of Mathematical Processes along with
Logic and Reasoning, and Communication.
This is the side of mathematics that
enables us to use the skills in a wide variety
of situations.
 LEARNING OBJECTIVES
This session shows you how to help students do the
following:

Make sense of mathematical concepts by

applying them to a variety of problem-solving
settings
Solve problems using a variety of strategies
Learn to monitor and reflect on their own ideas
in solving problems by sharing their thinking
with other students and the teacher.
 PROBLEM SOLVING
STRATEGIES
1. Make a Table
2. Working Backwards
3. Guess and Check
4. Draw a Picture
5. Make a List
6. Write a Number Sentence
Problem Solving
Strategies
Make a Table
 QUESTION
You save $3 on Monday. Each
day after that you save twice
as much as you saved the day
before. If this pattern
continues, how much would
you save on Friday?
 STRATEGY
UNDERSTAND

You need to know that you save $3

on Monday. Then you need to know
that you always save twice as much
as you find the day before.
 PLAN
How can you solve the problem?
You can make a table like the
one below. List the amount of
money you save each day.
Remember to double the
number each day.
You save $48 on Friday
AMOUNT OF MONEY SAVED
DAY

$3
Monday

$6
Tuesday

$12
Wednesday

$24
Thursday

$48
Friday
 Problem Solving
Strategies
Working Backwards
 QUESTION
Jack walked from Santa Clara to
Palo Alto. It took 1 hour 25 minutes
to walk from Santa Clara to Los
Altos. Then it took 25 minutes to walk
from Los Altos to Palo Alto. He
arrived in Palo Alto at 2:45 P.M. At
what time did he leave Santa Clara?
 STRATEGY
UNDERSTAND

What do you need to find?

You need to find what the
time was when Jack left Santa
Clara.
 PLAN
How can you solve the problem?

You can work backwards from

the time Jack reached Palo Alto.
Subtract the time it took to walk
from Los Altos to Palo Alto. Then
subtract the time it took to walk
from Santa Clara to Los Altos.
 SOLVE
Start at 2:45. This is the time
Jack reached Palo Alto.
Subtract 25 minutes. This is
the time it took to get from
Los Altos to Palo Alto.
Time is: 2:20 P.M.
Subtract: 1 hour 25 minutes.
This is the time it took to get
from Santa Clara to Los
Altos..

Jack left Santa Clara at

12:55 P.M.
Problem Solving
Strategies
Guess and Check
 QUESTION
Amy and Judy sold 12 show
tickets altogether. Amy sold
2 more tickets than Judy.
How many tickets did each
girl sell?
 STRATEGY
UNDERSTAND
What do you need to find?

You need to know that 12 tickets

were sold in all. You also need to
know that Amy sold 2 more tickets
than Judy.
 PLAN
How can you solve the problem?
You can guess and check to
find two numbers with a sum
of 12 and a difference of 2. If
your first guess does not
work, try two different
numbers.
 SOLVE
First Guess:
Amy = 8 tickets
Judy = 4 tickets

Check:
8 + 4 = 12
8 - 4 = 4 ( Amy sold 4 more tickets)
These numbers do not work!
 Second Guess:
Amy = 7 tickets
Judy = 5 tickets

Check:
7 + 5 = 12
7- 5 = 2 ( Amy sold 2 more
tickets)
These numbers do work!
Amy sold 7 tickets and
Judy sold 5 tickets.
Problem Solving
Strategies
Draw a Picture
 QUESTION
Laura has 3 green chips, 4
blue chips and 1 red chip in
her bag. What fractional
part of the bag of chips is
green?
 STRATEGY
UNDERSTAND
What do you need to find?
You need to find how many chips
are in all. Then you need to find
how many of the chips are green.
 PLAN
How can you solve the
problem?

You can draw a picture to

show the information. Then
you can use the picture to find
the answer.
 SOLVE
Draw 8 chips.

G G G B B B B R

3/8 of the chips are green.

Problem Solving
Strategies
Make a List
 QUESTION
Judy is taking pictures of Jim,
Karen and Mike. She asks
them, " How many different
ways could you three children
stand in a line?"
 STRATEGY
UNDERSTAND
What do you need to know?
You need to know that any of the
students can be first, second or
third.
 PLAN
How can you solve the problem?

You can make a list to help you find

all the different ways. Choose one
student to be first, and another to
be second. The last one will be
third.
 SOLVE
When you make your list, you
will notice that there are 2
ways for Jim to be first, 2 ways
for Karen to be first and 2
ways for Mike to be first.
FIRST SECOND THIRD
Jim Karen Mike

Jim Mike Karen

Karen Jim Mike

Karen Mike Jim

Mike Karen Jim

Mike Jim Karen

 So, there are 6 ways
that the children could
stand in line.
Problem Solving
Strategies
Write a Number
Sentence
 QUESTION

Sam put 18 pencils in 3 equal

groups. How many pencils are
in each group?
 STRATEGY
UNDERSTAND
What do you need to know?
You need to know that there
are 18 pencils and they are
divided into 3 equal groups.
 PLAN
How can you solve the problem?

You can write a number sentence

to solve the problem. Write a
division sentence to divide the
pencils in 3 equal groups.
 SOLVE
18 3 = 6

There are 6 pencils in

each group.
 THE END
Thank You and God
Bless!!!