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Fernandez. Allen G.
Math 100- Tuesday & Friday, 7:30-9-30 AM
UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM result? Could you use its method? Should you
introduce some auxiliary element in order to
First. You have to understand the problem. make its use possible?
What is the unknown? What are the data? What Could you restate the problem? Could you
is the condition? restate it still differently? Go back to definitions.
Is it possible to satisfy the condition? Is the If you cannot solve the proposed problem try to
condition sufficient to determine the unknown? solve first some related problem. Could you
Or is it insufficient? Or redundant? Or imagine a more accessible related problem? A
contradictory? more general problem? A more special problem?
Draw a figure. Introduce suitable notation. An analogous problem? Could you solve a part
Separate the various parts of the condition. Can of the problem? Keep only a part of the
you write them down? condition, drop the other part; how far is the
unknown then determined, how can it vary?
Could you derive something useful from the
DEVISING A PLAN
data? Could you think of other data appropriate
to determine the unknown? Could you change
Second. Find the connection between the data
the unknown or data, or both if necessary, so that
and the unknown. You may be obliged to
the new unknown and the new data are nearer to
consider auxiliary problems if an immediate
each other?
connection cannot be found. You should obtain
Did you use all the data? Did you use the whole
eventually a plan of the solution.
condition? Have you taken into account all
Have you seen it before? Or have you seen the
essential notions involved in the problem?
same problem in a slightly different form?
CARRYING OUT THE PLAN
Do you know a related problem? Do you know a
theorem that could be useful?
Third. Carry out your plan.
Look at the unknown! And try to think of a
Carrying out your plan of the solution, check
familiar problem having the same or a similar
each step. Can you see clearly that the step is
unknown.
correct? Can you prove that it is correct?
Here is a problem related to yours and solved
Looking Back
before. Could you use it? Could you use its
Fourth. Examine the solution obtain
Reference:
https://www.math.utah.edu/~pa/math/polya.html
“How to solve it: G Polya”
Bautista, Kathryn May U.
Math 100- Tuesday & Friday, 7:30-9-30 AM
DEVISING A PLAN