Task 3
Problem Solving and Reasoning
I. Apply Polya’s strategy in solving the following problems.
Step 1: Understand the problem: (restate the problem)
Step 2: Devise a plan: (identify your procedure)
Step 3: Carry out the plan: (implement your procedure)
Step 4: Review the solution: (Interpret the solution)
1. In a baseball league consisting of 10 teams, each team plays each of the other teams exactly
three times. How many league games will be played?
Understand the Problem: There are 10 teams in the league, and each team plays exactly three
games against each of the other teams. The problem is to determine the total number of league
games that will be played.
Device a Plan: Try the strategy of working a similar but simple problem. Considered with only
four teams. Hence, four teams can play each other once in 4-3 = 6 games
2
Carry out the Plan: Using the process developed above, we see that 10 teams can play each
other once. In a total of 10-9 = 45 games. Since each team plays each opponent exactly three
2
times, the total number of games is 45 • 3 = 35
Review the Solution: Make an organized list.
A B C D E F G H I J
AB AC AD AE AF AG AH AI AJ = 9
BC BD BE BF BG BH BI BJ = 8
CD CE CF CG CH CI CJ = 7
DE DF DG DH DI DJ = 6 = 45
EF EG EH EI EJ = 5 = 45 • 3
FG FH FI FJ = 4 = 135
GH GI GJ = 3
HI HJ = 2
IJ = 1
2. A hat and a jacket together cost $100. The jacket costs $90 more than the hat. What is the cost
of the hat and the cost of the jacket?
Understand the Problem: After the reading the problem for the first time, the jacket cost $90 and
the hat cost $100. The sum of these costs is $100, but the cost of the jacket is only $90 more than
the cost of the hat. We need to find the two dollar amounts that differ by $90 and whose sum is
$100.
Device a Plan: Write an equation using h for the cost of the hat and h + 90 for the cost of the
jacket: h + h + 90 = 100.
Carry out the Plan: 2h + 90 =100
2h = 10
h=5
Review the Solution: The sum of the costs is $5 + $95 = $100, and the cost of the jacket is $90
more than the cost of the hat.
3. If December 25, 2016 fell on Wednesday, on what day of the week does Christmas fall in
2025? Note that the years 2020 and 2024 are both leap years.
Understand the Problem: Take note that after whole weeks we return to the same day. Exactly a
week after today, April 21, for example which is a Tuesday, April 28 would also be a Tuesday.
Hence, we determine the remainder per year.
Device a Plan: When we divide 1 year by a week or 365 days by 7 days, we get a remainder of 1
day. That means, without a leap year involved, April 21,2020 or today is Tuesday, and next year
April 21, 2021 would be Wednesday.
Carry out the Plan: Take note that leap years involve an additional day on February. We then
add by 2 on that occasion. So although 2016 is also a leap year, it is not involved in the count as
December 2016 comes after Febuary 2016.
2016 – Saturday
2017 – Monday
2018 – Thursday
2019 – Wednesday
2020 – Leap year (+2) Friday
2021 – Saturday
2022 – Sunday
2023 – Monday
2024 – Leap year (+2) Wednesday
2025 – Thursday
Review the Solution: Therefore, Christmas of 2025 will happen on a Thursday.
II. Inductive Vs Deductive. Identify the following arguments as inductive or
deductive.
1. A number is a neat number if the sum of the cubes of it digits equal the number. Therefore,
153 is a neat number.
Ans: Inductive Reasoning
2. I know I will win a jackpot on this slot machine in the next 10 tries, because it has not paid out
any money during the last 45 tries.
Ans: Inductive Reasoning
3. All Gillian Flynn novels are worthy reading. The novel Gone Girl is a Gillian Flynn novel.
Thus, Gone Girl is worth reading.
Ans: Deductive Reasoning
4. During the past 10 years, a tree has produced plums every other year. Last year the tree did not
produce plums, so this year the tree will produce plums.
Ans: Inductive Reasoning
5. Cats don’t eat tomatoes. Tiger is a cat. Therefore, Tiger don’t eat tomatoes.
Ans: Deductive Reasoning
6. All pentagons have exactly five sides. Figure A is a pentagon. Therefore, Figure A has exactly
five sides.
Ans: Deductive Reasoning
7. Samantha got an A on each of her first four math tests, so she will get an A on the next math
test.
Ans: Inductive Reasoning
8. The Atlanta Braves have won five games in a row. Therefore, the Atlanta Braves will win
their next game.
Ans: Inductive Reasoning
9. Every English setter likes to hunt. Duke is an English setter, so duke likes to hunt.
Ans: Deductive Reasoning
10.We have rained each day for the last five days, so it will rain today.
Ans: Deductive Reasoning
III. Predict the next term of the sequence.
1. 2, 12, 28, 50, 78, 112
2. 1, 7, 17, 31, 49, 71, 97
3. 2, 7, 24, 59, 118, 207, 332
4. 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64
5. 1, 5, 12, 22, 35, 51
IV. Logic Puzzle
Each of the four friends Donna, Sarah, Nikkie, and Xhanelle, has a different pet (fish, cat, dog,
and snake). From the following clues determine the pet of each individual:
1. Sarah is older than her friend who owns the cat and younger than her friend who owns the
dog.
2. Nikkie and her friend who owns the snake are both of the same age and are the youngest
members of their group.
3. Donna is older than her friend who owns the fish.
Fish Cat Dog Snake
Donna x x / x
Sarah / x x x
Nikkie x / x x
Xhanelle x x x /
1. Sarah owns the Fish because she is neither the oldest nor the youngest in the group.
2. Nikkie and Xhanelle are the youngest members of the group so as the first clue says, either Nikkie or
Xhanelle owns the Cat. The second clue says that Nikkie’s friend owns the pet Snake and they are the
same age so Xhanelle owns the pet Snake and Nikkie owns the Cat.
3. Donna owns the Dog because she is the oldest one as the first clue says.
