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ERIC Number: EJ1110750
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016-Aug
Pages: 5
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0025-5769
EISSN: N/A
Looking Back to Support Problem Solving
Dickman, Benjamin
Mathematics Teacher, v110 n1 p54-58 Aug 2016
Guessing, for Pólya, is an important way of getting an initial handle on a mathematical problem. An argument can be made to place guessing in any one of the first three steps of the four-step approach to problem solving as described in "How to Solve It" (Pólya 1945). It could be a part of understanding the problem, devising a plan, or carrying out the plan. Guessing can occur throughout the problem-solving process. Traditionally, guessing is incorporated into the work toward a solution. The authors advocate a different approach--guessing that occurs after the problem has already been solved. In this article, the author considers instead placing it in the final step--looking back.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. 1906 Association Drive, Reston, VA 20191. Tel: 800-235-7566; Tel: 703-620-9840; Fax: 703-476-2570; e-mail: NCTM@nctm.org; Web site: http://www.nctm.org/publications/mathematics-teacher/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A