MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

Module 5 / First Semester

Mr. Chad Aye Alova By: Angelica By: Angelica <3

Module 5: Problem Solving with Patterns and Polya’s Problem Solving Strategy

Pattern 1. Understand the Problem

- constitutes a set of numbers or objects in which all members are - This part of problem solving is sometimes, if not always,
related with each other by a specific rule neglected.
- also known as a sequence - In order to solve a problem, we must first know what is being
Sequence asked and what information or data can be extracted from what is
- an ordered list of objects (or events) given.
- a succession of numbers in specific order ■ Can you restate the problem in your own words?
Term ■ Can you determine what is known about these types of problems?
- each number in a sequence ■ Is there missing information that, if known, would allow you to solve the
- formed according to some fixed rule or property problem?
■ Is there extraneous information that is not needed to solve the problem?
■ What is the goal?
FIBONACCI SEQUENCE
- can be generated by adding two consecutive terms to get the next 2. Device a Plan
term where the first two terms are 1. - think of strategies to solve the problem
The sequence can be generated by the recursive formula; - Some of these strategies include organizing the given information
F n=F n−1+ F n−2 using a list, table or chart; drawing a diagram; working out the
Note: The given recursive formula above can give us successive terms of the pattern backwards; looking for a pattern; trying to solve a similar
Fibonacci sequence; however, the recursive formula will not be of much help but a simpler problem; making an equation or simply guessing at a
whenever you would need to know larger terms of the Fibonacci sequence. possible solution and then later checking of the result is valid.
- We can also utilize Trial and Error
JACQUES BINET (1543) • Make a list of the known
• Try to solve a similar but
- found a faster way in determining the nth term of the Fibonacci information.
simpler problem.
sequence • Make a list of information that
• Look for a pattern.
is needed.
• Write an equation. If necessary,
Formula: • Draw a diagram.
define what each variable represents.
f n=¿ ¿ • Make an organized list that
• Perform an experiment.
shows all the possibilities.
• Guess at a solution and then
• Make a table or a chart.
check your result.
• Work backwards.
PASCAL’S TRIANGLE
- named after Blaise Pascal
3. Carry Out the Plan
- this triangular set of numbers have been around far before Pascal’s
- it is simply implementing the strategy we have chosen in the
time
second step until the problem is solved or until a new course of
- In India, this is called the “Staircase to Mount Meru”,
action is suggested.
- In Iran this is called the “Khayyam’s Triangle”, and;
- get ideas from others in deciding the best strategy to make sure that
- In China it is “Yang Hui’s Triangle”
the best solution is employed.
- not famous with how it was generated, rather, it has a lot of
■ Work carefully.
patterns that can be derived, including the Fibonacci sequence ■ Keep an accurate and neat record of all your attempts.
- has numerous patterns and hidden meanings, as demonstrated by ■ Realize that some of your initial plans will not work and that you may have
Wajdi Mohamed Ratemi to devise another plan or modify your existing plan.

4. Review the Solution

POLYA’S PROBLEM SOLVING STRATEGY - Questions like “Is your answer reasonable?” is important to check
“A great discovery solves a great problem, but there is a grain of discovery in the veracity of the answer to the problem.
the solution of any problem. Your problem may be modest, but if it challenges - For example, if we are looking for the dimensions of a rectangular
your curiosity and brings into play your inventive faculties, and if you solve it box of least cost and our answer yields a negative length, we can
by your own means, you may experience the tension and enjoy the triumph of automatically say that there must be something wrong with our
discovery.” - George Polya solution because there is no box with negative dimensions.
■ Ensure that the solution is consistent with the facts of the problem.
- George Polya outlined a strategy for solving ■ Interpret the solution in the context of the problem.
problems not just in mathematics but applicable ■ Ask yourself whether there are generalizations of the solution that could
apply to other problems.
to “any” discipline.

POLYA’S FOUR-STEP PROBLEM SOLVING STRATEGY

MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD
Module 5 / First Semester
Mr. Chad Aye Alova By: Angelica By: Angelica <3

Device a Plan: Use an equation. Let represent the unknown height of the
EXAMPLE PROBLEMS: person. Write an expression satisfying da Vinci’s measurements.

#1 Carry out the Plan:

X = height of the person
Example 3-1:
Equation:

Cardiff City FC won three out of their last six games. In how many 1
x=1.2
different orders could they have attained three wins and three losses in six
games?
54
x =1.2(54)
Solution:
x = 64.8 in or 5.4 tall.
Understand the problem: There are many different ways that Cardiff City
Review the Solution: the solution is quite simple. Now check your progress –
FC may have won 3 out of 6. Example (WWWLLL) wins first 3 games and
follow da Vinci’s measurements to find a person’s height.
lost last 3 games or many other possibilities.

Devise a Plan: One can organize a list of all the possible outcomes making #3
sure that no entry will be duplicated.
Example 3-3:
Carry out the Plan: Three W’s must be present in every entry without
duplication. The strategy is to start the list with three consecutive wins. Next An agency charged ₱15,000 for a 3-day and 2-night tour in Macau and
in the list are all the entries with 2 consecutive wins, then next list are all the ₱20,000 for the same tour with a side trip to Hong Kong. Ten persons joined
entries starting with a single win and so on, the following should be the order: the trip which enabled them to collect ₱170,000. How many tourists made a
side trip to Hong Kong?
1. WWWLLL Solution:
2. LWWWLL
3. LLWWWL Understand the problem: There are two types of tourists in the situation
4. LLLWWW given. Some purely stayed in Macau while others made a side trip to Hong
5. WWLWLL Kong. From the total college how much amount was gathered for those who
6. LWWLWL purely stayed in Macau and how much was collected from those who made
7. LLWWLW side trips to Hong Kong?
8. WWLLWL
9. LWWLLW Devise a Plan: Use variables x and y to represent the two types of tourists.
10. WWLLLW Define the variables. Let x be the number of tourists bound for Macau alone
11. WLWWLL and y be the number of tourists who was bound for Macau and a side trip to
12. LWLWWL Hong Kong. Hence, we have the following algebraic expressions:
13. LLWLWW
14. WLLWWL P15,000x= amount collected from the tourists bound for Macau alone.
15. LWLLWW
16. WLLLWW P20,000y= amount collected from the tourists bound for Macau but made a
17. WLWLWL side trip to Hong Kong
18. LWLWLW
19. WLWLLW Carry out the Plan: Write the equation and solve using the elimination
20. WLLWLW method of the system of equations.
Review the Solution: the list is organized and has no duplicates, so there are 15,000 ( x )+ 20000 ( y )=170000
20 different orders in which the team can win 3 games out of six. 10−x= y
#2 15,000(x )+20000 ( 10−x )=170000
15000 ( x )+ 200000−20000 ( x )=170000
Example 3-2:
−5000(x )=170000−200000
−5000 ( x )=−30000
−5000 ( x ) =−30000
Leonardo Da Vinci is a famous artist during the renaissance
period. He wrote in his notebook that “from the top to the bottom of the chin
−5000
is the sixth part of the face, and it is the fifty-fourth part of the man.” x=6
10 - x = y
Suppose the distance from the top of the chin of a person is 1.2 inches, using 10 – 6 = 4 = y
Leonardo da Vinci’s measurements, find the height of the person.
Therefore, there are 4 tourists who were bound for Macau and made a side trip
Solution: to Hong Kong.

Understand the Problem: Obviously, we need to determine the height of the Review the solution: Since there are a total of 10 tourists, 6 of them only
person given the details that Da Vinci mentioned. stayed in Macau while 4 made a side trip to Hong Kong.
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD
Module 5 / First Semester
Mr. Chad Aye Alova By: Angelica By: Angelica <3

15,000(6)+20,000(4)=170,000

90,000+80,000=170,000

170,000=170,000