Problem Solving Strategies

1
Problem Solving Strategies

• Caleb Allison
• Darith Galindo
• Julie Miller

2
Problem Solving Strategies

• Knowing various strategies allows you to
  effectively approach different types of problems.
  You may encounter some of these problems in
  coursework and standardized tests, as well as in
  everyday situations.

3
Types of Strategies

• Eliminate possibilities
• Guess check
• Work backwards
• Draw a diagram
• Make a list

4
Eliminate Possibilities

• You may already use this strategy without knowing
  it, like the game 20 Questions. When presented
  with a problem, you look at all the possible
  solutions, and then you begin to eliminate
  unreasonable answers.
• In the words of Sherlock Holmes, Once you have
  eliminated the impossible, then whatever is left,
  no matter how improbable, must be the solution.

5
Eliminate Possibilities

• Juana threw five darts at a dartboard. The
  possible scores on the target were 2, 4, 6, 8,
  10. Each dart hit the target. Which of these
  total scores can be quickly identified as not
  possible 38, 23, 58, 30, 42, 31, 26, 6, 14, or
  15?
• 23, 58, 15
• 31, 6, 15
• 23, 58, 31, 6
• 23, 58, 31, 6, 15

6
Oops!

• Unfortunately that is not the correct answer. Go
  back and try again!

7
Hooray!!!

• Congratulations, you are correct!
• Go to the next strategy.

8
Guess Check

• This strategy might seem trivial, yet it can
  organize information in a way that the
  information becomes more useful in your hands.
  Guess Check is not only a strategy, it is also
  an attitude. You must first believe that you can
  solve a problem, even if you dont understand it.

9
Guess Check

• A train leaves Roseville heading east at 600
  a.m. at 40 mph. Another eastbound train leaves
  on a parallel track at 700 a.m. at 50 mph. At
  what time will the two trains be the same
  distance away from Roseville?
• 1000 a.m.
• 1100 a.m.
• 1200 p.m.
• 100 p.m.

10
Yippee!!!

• You are so smart
• Go to the next strategy

11
Oops!

• Unfortunately that is not the correct answer. Go
  back and try again!

12
Work Backwards

• Most other strategies, you work forwards through
  the information in a problem. To successfully
  work backwards, you need to change your focus and
  consider the whole problem in reverse.

13
Work Backwards

• The night before their debut in Carnegie Hall,
  half of the ballet company stayed up late
  watching tractor pulls on TV. Excuse me, make
  that half of the company plus one more. There
  were 13 tired dances in all, so how many dancers
  were in the company?
• 13
• 24
• 50
• 26