lower primary maths problem solving
DESCRIPTION
This session is on problem-solving heuristics for parents of primary one and two children.TRANSCRIPT
Problem Solving Heuristics for Lower Primary Mathematics
Yeap Ban Har
Catholic High School (Primary)
MATHEMATICAL PROBLEM SOLVING
The rationale of teaching mathematics is that it is “an excellent vehicle for the development
and improvement of a person’s intellectual competence”.
National Institute of Education
Wellington Primary School, Singapore
Ministry of Education Singapore 2006
an excellent vehicle for the development
and improvement of a person’s intellectual competence
“
”
mathematics
Move 3 sticks to get two squares.
Move 3 sticks to get two squares.
Wellington Primary School, Singapore
Wellington Primary School, Singapore
Wellington Primary School, Singapore
Wellington Primary School, Singapore
Wellington Primary School, Singapore
Wellington Primary School, Singapore
John had 1.5 m of copper wire. He cut some of the wire to bend into the shape shown in the figure below. In the figure, there are 6 equilateral triangles and the length of XY is 19 cm. How much of the copper wire was left?
19 cm x 5 = 95 cm
150 cm – 95 cm = 55 cm
Example 1
F A M I L Y F A M I L Y F A M I L Y . . .
F A M I L Y F A M I L Y F A M I L Y . . . 6th 12th 18th
What is the 50th letter?
Example 2
104, 124, 144, 164, 184, . . .
104, 124, 144, 164, 184, 204, . . .
104, 124, 144, 164, 184, 204, 224, 244, 264,
Position
Number
1 10
2 12
3 14
4 16
5 18
… …
19 ?
Example 3
Even routine tasks such as finding the value of 7 x 9 are initially problems.
2 x 9 = 18
5 x 9 = 45
Primary Mathematics Standards Edition
Example 4
199 – 39 = 160
200 – 39 = ?
Example 5
17 + 19
17 + 19
16 + 20
Example 6
-
3
100- 97 3 101
- 98 3 102
- 99 3
-
5
100- 95 5 101
- 96 5 102
- 97 5
103- 98 5
104- 99 5
Children may do guess-and-check to get the solutions. Some children may observe a pattern / relationship. Guess-and-check and observe a pattern are
examples of heuristics.
Example 7
Khon Kaen, Thailand
4
1
5
23
Princess Elizabeth Primary School
Prin
cess E
lizabeth
Prim
ary
Sch
ool
Example 8
2 4 5
2xx 4xx 5xx
245254
425452
524542
Use a table is another problem-solving heuristic in mathematics.
Example 9
1
5 4
2
Example 10
A cupcake is sold at 40 cents each.How many cupcakes can be bought using $1 coin?
Example 11
A cupcake is sold at 40 cents each.How many cupcakes can be bought using $95?
Example 12
Ali has 3 picture cards.Janice has 2 more cards than Ali.How many picture cards do they altogether?
Ali
Janice
Ali has 19 picture cards.Janice has 12 more cards than Ali.How many picture cards do they altogether?
19Ali
Janice 12
Ali has 19 picture cards.Janice has 12 more cards than Ali.How many picture cards do they altogether?
19Ali
Janice 12
Example 13
Alan has 19 picture cards.He has 12 more cards than Bala.How many picture cards do they altogether?
19Alan
Bala 12
Example 14
Roy has some picture cards.Samantha has 12 more cards than Roy.They have 20 cards altogether.How many cards does Samantha have?
Roy
Samantha 1220