Problem Solving Strategies

Strategies

You solve problems every day – and not only in math. To solve a problem successfully you need to have a plan – we call this a strategy. Some of the strategies you might be familiar with are:

Looking for a pattern	Acting the problem out or making a model
Making a list	Using manipulatives
Making a chart, table, diagram, or graph	Estimating
Drawing a picture	Guessing and checking

Some other strategies you may not know or have not tried are:

Writing an equation or using a formula	Breaking a large problem into smaller sub-problems
Working backwards	Using a calculator or other technology to solve / check your work is helpful too.

Some of the strategies are similar to each other. You might use only one strategy to solve a problem, or you might need to use a combination of several different strategies.

Now, it's time to take a look at the format to use to communicate your thinking to others.

Introduction Format Tasks Rubric Conclusion Teacher Resources