BASIC MATHEMATICS

MT2311D1
COURSEWORK

GROUP MEMBER’S NAME : SHALINI D/O MURUGAN

(900127-05-5222)

: SANGEETHA D/O KRISHNAN

(900113-10-5284)

TOPIC : PROBLEM SOLVING

COURSE : PPISMP/ SEM 2

UNIT : MT/BI/BT

LECTURE NAME : PN.HAJAH FATIMAH

 CONTENTS
TOPIC PAGE
PROBLEM 1 1-4
PROBLEM 2 5-9
PROBLEM 3 10-13
PROBLEM 4 14-18
REFLECTIONS 19-23
 Understanding of the problem solving principles is essential, especially when
we deal with the real life problems. These problems can be very complex.
Introduction to different strategies in problem solving will give ideas and encourage
us to solve mathematical problems.It can be applied to solve real life problems.

1) Able to describe the role and propose of problem- solving in Mathematics

curriculum.

2) Implement the 4 steps of Polya’s Model of Problem Solving

3) Demonstrate teaching of mathematical concepts through problem- solving.

4) Develop critical thinking among pupils through problem solving activities.

 PROBLEM 1

Some problems have more than one answer. When you find an answer
to a problem, don't stop there. Ask yourself if there might be other
answers.

The villagers were building a bridge. While working under the bridge
Rodney could see only the legs of those walking by. He counted 10 legs
in one group. What combination of sheep and children could have been
in that group?

 
STRATEGY 1 (GUESS AND CHECK)

STEP 1 : UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM

 Clues /information (asking question)

 Try 3 people and 2 sheep.

 6 legs + 8 legs = 14 legs
 I can use guess and check.
 That's too many legs.
 Try 3 people and 1 sheep
 6 legs + 4 legs = 10 legs
 Correct! Rodney saw 10 legs.

STEP 2: DEVISE A PLAN

 The possible strategies

 Guess and Check and Demonstration
 Grouping : Group of 5 and Group of 4

STEP 3: CARRY OUT THE PLAN

 Group of 5 ,there will be 3 people and 2 sheep.

 Counting 1 : 6 + 8= 14 legs
 Group of 4, there will be 3 people and 1 sheep
 Counting 2 : 6 + 4= 10 legs

STEP 4 : CHECK THE ANSWER

 The number of legs must be 10

STRATEGY 2 : (CONSTRUCT A TABLE)

STEP 1 : UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM

 What combination of sheep and children could have ten legs.

STEP 2: DEVISE A PLAN

 The total number of legs of those who walking by the bridge
must be 10.
 The children have the pair of legs .It is 2.
 The sheep have 4 legs
 What is the combination of sheep and children could have ten
legs.

STEP 3: CARRY OUT THE PLAN

I can check for other answers. I'll organize my work in a table.

Children Legs Sheep Legs Total

1 2 2 8 10 ok
2 4 2 8 12 not ok
3 6 1 4 10 ok
4 8 1 4 12 not ok

There are two possible answers: 1 person and 2 sheep, or 3 people and 1
sheep.

STEP 4 : CHECK THE ANSWER

 The answer can be double checked by drawing and figures

from the table
 Problem 2

STRATEGY 1 : (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?

STEP 1 : UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM

What do you need to find?

Find what the time was when Jack left Santa Clara.

STEP 2 : DEVICE A 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.

STEP 3: CARRY OUT THE PLAN

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.

STEP 4 : CHECK THE ANSWER

Jack left Santa Clara at 12.55 P.M.

Time taken to reach Santa Clara from Los Altos

= 12.55 P.M. + 1 hours 25 minutes

= 2.20 P.M.

Time taken to reach Palo Alto from Salta Clara

= 2.20 P.M. + 25 minutes

= 2.45 P.M.
STRATEGY 2 : (SIMPLIFY THE PROBLEM )

1 hour 25 min LOS 25 min PALO ALTO

SANTA
ALTOS
CLARA

START FINISHED

2.45 P.M

STEP 1 :Understand The Problem

 Jack walked from Santa Clara to Palo Alto.

 Find the time did he leave Santa Clara.

STEP 2: Device A Plan

 Simplify the problem

 Transferability of a network

Step 3: Carry Out The Plan

 Draw a topology map of Jack’s journey from Santa Clara to Polo

Alto.

 Los Altos is connecting Santa Clara to Polo Alto.

 Simplify the problem- network representing the 3 places.

= 2.45P.M. –( 1 hour 25 min + 25 min)

= 12.55 P.M.
Step 4 : Check The Answer
 Jack left Santa Clara at 12.55 P.M.

Time taken to reach Santa Clara from Los Altos

= 12.55 P.M. + 1 hours 25 minutes

= 2.20 P.M.

Time taken to reach Palo Alto from Salta Clara

= 2.20 P.M. + 25 minutes

= 2.45 P.M.
 Problem 3

Question: Carol has written a number pattern that begins with 1, 3, 6, 10, 15. If she
continues this pattern, what are the next four numbers in her pattern?

STRATEGY 1 : Find a Pattern

STEP 1 :Understand The Problem

What do you need to find?

You need to find 4 numbers after 15.

STEP 2 : Device A Plan

How can you solve the problem?

You can find a pattern. Look at the numbers. The new number depends upon
the number before it.

Step 3: Carry Out The Plan

Look at the numbers in the pattern.

3 = 1 + 2 (starting number is 1, add 2 to make 3)

6 = 3 + 3 (starting number is 3, add 3 to make 6)

10 = 6 + 4 (starting number is 6, add 4 to make 10)

15 = 10 + 5 (starting number is 10, add 5 to make 15)

New numbers will be

15 + 6 = 21

21 + 7 = 28

28 + 8 = 36

36 + 9 = 45

Step 4 : Check The Answer

+2 +3 +4 +5 +6 +7 +8 +9

1 3 6 10 15 21 28 36 45
STRATEGY 2 : CONSTRUCT A TABLE

STEP 1 :Understand The Problem

 What do you need to find?

 Need to find next 4 number in the pattern.

STEP 2 : Device The Plan

You can construct a table.

Look at the numbers given.

The new numbers depends on the number before it.

Define the relation between the starting number and the following
numbers.

FIRST 1
SECOND 1+2=3
THIRD 3+3=6
FOURTH 6 + 4 =10
FIFTH 10 + 5 =15
SIXTH 15 + 6 = 21
SEVENTH 21 + 7 =28
EIGTH 28 + 8 =36
STEP 3 : CARRY OUT THE PLAN

I can check for other answers. I will organize my work in a table.

Step 4: Check the answer

 The answer can be double checked by drawing and figures

from the table.

PROBLEM 1
Conclusion:
The two strategies used in solving this problem are

 guess and check

 construct a table

The strategy ‘construct a table’ is a better strategy because:

1. It is more systematic and we can see the information clearly.

2. The information can be shown in the correct order.

3. It takes less time to solve the problem using this strategy because the
information is already in table form so that, we can get the answer straight
away.

NEW PROBLEM 1
Seth and Bob each began reading a Hardy Boys book today. If Seth reads
8 pages each day and Bob reads 5 pages each day, what page will Bob be
reading when Seth is reading page 56? (Hint: Complete the table.)

Seth's Bob's
Day
Page Page
1 8 5
2 16 10
3 24 15

STRATEGY 1 : Find a Pattern

STEP 1 : Understanding the Problem

· How many pages does Seth read each day? (8) Bob? (5)
· Did they start reading their books on the same day? (yes)

STEP 2 : Devise a plan

· How many pages had Seth read at the end of the first day? (8) Bob? (5)
· When Seth has read 16 pages, how many pages will Bob have read?(10)
· Find the number of pages Seth read for the first 5 days. (8, 16, 24, 32, 40)

STEP 3 : Carry out the plan

Make a Table   

Seth's Bob's
Day
Page Page
1 8 5
2 16 10
3 24 15
4 32 20
5 40 25
6 48 30
7 56 35

Bob will be reading page 35 when Seth is reading page 56.

STEP 4 : Check the answer

Mary reads 9 pages a day, Sue reads 10 pages a day, and Molly reads 8
pages a day. What page will Sue and Molly each be reading when Mary is
reading page 72? (Sue--Page 80, Molly--Page 64)
Problem 2

Conclusion:
The two strategies used in solving this problem are

 Working backwards

 Simplify the problem

The strategy ‘working backwords’ is a better strategy because:

1) It easy to get answer.

2) It is more simple than strategy 2.

New Problem 2
Wednesday, Jed paid Phil the $1.00 he owed him. If Phil now has $2.00,
how much is his allowance? (Hint: Using the facts given, start with the
amount Phil has now and work backwards.)

STEP 1 : UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM

· How much money did Phil have after Wednesday? ($2.00)

· Do you know how much Phil's allowance is? (no)
· How much did Phil spend at the fruit stand? ($1.50)
· Was Phil given any money after he got his allowance? (Yes, Jed gave him $1.00.)

STEP 2 : DEVISE A PLAN

· Did Phil have Jed's $1.00 on Tuesday night? (no)

· How much money did Phil have at the end of Tuesday? ($2.00 - $1.00 =
$1 00)
· Did Phil spend money on Tuesday? (yes, $1.50) How much money did
Phil have before he spent the $1.50? ($1.00 + $1.50 = $2.50

STEP 3 : CARRY OUT THE PLAN

Work Backwards   

Start with ? ^ End with $2.50

|
Subtract $1.50 | Add $1.50
|
Add $1.00 | Subtract $1.00
|
End with $2.00     | Start with $2.00
v
So--->

Phil's allowance is $2.50.

STEP 4 : CHECK THE ANSWER

On Phil's birthday his father increased his allowance. Phil was so happy he
went to the store and bought 2 cans of spray paint for his model airplanes.
The paint cost $1.50. After Phil bought the paint, he had $3.50 left. How
much of an increase did Phil get in his allowance? ($2.50, twice as much).

Problem 3
Conclusion:
The two strategies used in solving this problem are

(i) Find a pattern

(ii) Construct a table

The strategy ‘draw a table’ is a better strategy because:

1. It is more systematic and we can see the information clearly. A table shows
relationship between two or more sets or facts or information.

2. The information can be shown in the correct order because draw a table helps
to construct to report information.

3. By drawing a table, the solution can be found more easily and faster compare
to the strategy look for a pattern because the information is already in the table
form so that, we can get the answer straight away.

New Problem 3

A man was very overweight and his doctor told him to lose 36 kg. If he
loses 11 kg the first week, 9 kg the second week, and 7 kg the third week,
and he continues losing at this rate, how long will it take him to lose 36 kg?
(Hint: Look for a pattern. Then complete the table.)

Total
Week Kilograms
Lost
1 11
2 11 + 9 = 20
3 20 + 7 = 27
4  
5  

                    

STEP 1 : Understanding the Problem           

· How much does the man need to lose? (36 kg)            
· How much did he lose the first week? (11 kg)            
· How much did he lose the second week? (9 kg)            
· How much did he lose the third week? (7 kg)

STEP 2 : DEVISE A PLAN

· How much less does he lose the second week than the first week?(2 kg)    
· How much less does he lose the third week than the secornd? (2 kg)            

STEP 3 : CARRY OUT THE PLAN

Look for a Pattern

Total
Week Kilograms
Lost
1 11
2 11 + 9 = 20
3 20 + 7 = 27
4 27 + 5 = 32
5 32 + 3 = 35
6 35 + 1 = 36

Pattern: The number of kilograms lost decreases by 2 each week.

It will take the man 6 weeks to lose 36 kg.

STEP 4 : CHECK THE ANSWER

If the man gains his weight back at the rate of 2 kg the first week, 4 kg the
second week, 6 kg the third week, and so on, in which week will he have
gained back 36 kg? (the sixth).
 NAME : SHALINI A/P MURUGAN

I.C NO : 900127055222

I am Shalini A/P Murugan , a student of PPISMP Mathematics/English/Tamil

Language unit. For this second semester, I was given a coursework on ‘Problem
Solving’ for Basic Mathematics subject by my subject lecturer, Pn.Hajah Fatimah. I
worked in a group of three in order to complete this coursework.

I had earned many benefits from doing this Basic Mathematics Coursework.
First, I understand the routine and non-routine problems. Routine is one that merely
requires you to apply some known procedure. Non-routine Problem is an unusual
problem situation in which you do not know any standard procedure to solve it. I had
used many types of strategies in solving problems. They are nine strategies that can
be used in solving problems. These guess and check, draw diagram, simulation,
working backwards, analogy, simplify the problem, construct a table and identifying
pattern.

Besides that also had known anew term in mathematics that was
Polya’s Models . I had learnt the four steps in solving problems in order to solve a
problem with more smart. The steps help me to understand the problem with more
deeply and able to analyze to get the solution. The non-routine problem is not really
a simple process but it requires certain skills, strategies and experiences. I had gain
information about all the strategies from the Internet to give me a better
understanding of the problem solving.

This non-problem promotes a critical thinking in me. I able to synthesis

and analyze the problem .It also promote creative thinking. I got the ability to apply
the information, facts and strategies in the process of problem solving. On the other
hand, it also had promoted a good mental process and enhanced the understanding
of concepts and procedures. I had tried many times to solve a problem to get logical
answer.

Furthermore, this problem solving is useful because it can help me in

my future life. It was a good coursework because it can lead us to solve our daily
problems. I can use steps to solve my problem and would not have to be to panic
and stress. It can make my life easier and can relief tension in our life. Therefore, it
would be a good stimulator in ourselves to give us spirit to solve the problems.

Moreover, it also helped me in future as I am going to be teacher. I can

teach my students all this methods and strategies. It is applicable in studying skills to
give a better understanding to the students.

Lastly, I hope I will get this type of coursework in my next semester to

improve my knowledge and experience on problem solving and to prepare myself to
face the obstacles and challenges in my future. Thank You.
NAME : SANGEETHA A/P MOOKAN

IC NO. : 880826-10-5158

I am Gomala A/P Mookan, a student of PPISMP Mathematics/English/Tamil

Language unit. For this second semester, I was given a coursework on ‘Problem
Solving’ for Basic Mathematics subject by my subject lecturer, Miss. Low Lee Kim. I
worked in a group of three in order to complete this coursework.

At first, when I was given this coursework I really do not have any idea on how
to start it. After listen to my lecturer’s explanations all my doubts fly away. She gave
a clear picture about the coursework and the proper way to do it. In this coursework,
we were asked to find three non-routine problems and create a new non-routine
problem by modifying any of the non-routine problems that we have found earlier.

This coursework taught me so many things in so many ways which is very

useful for me as a trainer teacher. I thought that I am not a good problem solver and
I cannot be it so. But this coursework has proved that my thoughts are actually
wrong. After I finished my this ‘Problem Solving’ coursework, I found out that I also
have the potential to become a good problem solver especially in solving non-routine
problems which requires high level thinking skills.

I also learned many types of problem solving strategies such as guess and
check, look for a pattern, work backward and many more. These strategies are really
useful to solve a non-routine problem. After solve the problems, I have understood
that a non-routine problem can be salved easily if the strategy that we choose is
correct. Now I feel that solving non-routine problems are not very hard. In contrast, it
is actually very interesting and challenging. It makes me to think not only in general
ways but also in more abstract ways.

Besides that I also get to know about a great Mathematician, George Polya
and his principles on solving non-routine problems which is known as ‘Polya’s
model’. As a Mathematics student, it is very useful and important for me to get to
about this great Mathematician.

I think this coursework really useful for all the students because it helps
students to sharpen their thinking skill. At the same time I feel that the number of
questions that we were asked to solve is very little. The number of questions should
be increased to 7 or 8. Anyhow I satisfied with this coursework and now I have the
potential to create a non-routine problem and can solve it too. For that, I would like to
thank Mathematics Department of IPRM for giving me the opportunity to do this
coursework. Thanks to my lecturer, Miss. Low Lee Kim, my fellow friends and
everyone who helped me to finish this coursework successfully. Thank you.