Chapter 5

• Polya's Four Step Process

  A problem-solving strategy developed by mathematician George Polya
• Polya's Four Step Process

  1. Understanding the problem

  2. Devising a plan

  3. Carrying out the plan

  4. Evaluating the solution
• Step 1: Understanding the problem


  • Read the problem carefully
  • List all the components and data that are involved
  • Identify what is being asked (assigning variables)
• Step 2: Devising a plan (Translate)


  • Come up with a way to solve the problem
  • Set up an equation, drawing a diagram, and making a chart
• Step 3: Carry out the plan (Solve)


  • Solve the equation
  • Check each step of the plan as you proceed
• Step 4: Look back (Check and interpret)


  • Check to see if all the information are correctly used and that the answer makes sense
  • If the answer is correct, write the final answer with the correct labeling
• Problem 1


  • Twice the difference of a number and 1 is 4 more than that number. Find the number.
• Problem 2


  • You purchased a new mobile phone at a local electronics store for php 15,400.00, which includes the tax. If the tax rate is 8.25%, find the price of the mobile phone before the tax was added.
• Problem 3


  • The length of a rectangle is 2 inches more than 4 times the width. Find the dimensions if the perimeter is 32 inches.
• Problem 4


  • The sum of two numbers is 177. If the second number is 3 less than the first number, then what are the numbers?
• Next ---→ Activity 3.2 ---→ Quiz 4