Maths Problem Solving
L.I:- I can use and identify different problem solving strategies to help me solve problems.
Task: Choose one of the following games from the www.coolmath-games.com website:
Bricker
Civiballs
Compulse
Factory Balls
Mouse Trap –Particularly challenging game.
Each of these games needs you to be able to problem solve. The following strategies will help you
succeed at completing the game; you may use them already without thinking about it.
Stop, Think and Plan – Making a plan of what you are going to do before you start will help you to
stop making mistakes which you might of done if you jumped in. Like in Civiballs, where you could
cut one of the chains to early.
Divide & Conquer – Break the problem down into smaller problems. Figure out how to complete
each step in the task and then join them all together.
Spot a Pattern – Does the problem look like something you’ve done before, if it does can you use an
earlier strategy to help solve the problem.
Trial and Error – Try one strategy, if that one doesn’t work try another strategy. Remember to do
this in a sequence, don’t do this randomly but come up with an order.
Lateral Thinking – Try something completely different to what you’ve done before.
Brainstorm – Talk to someone else about what they might do and see if you can come up with a
solution together.
Complete the following for any game you have played.
Name of the game:
Aim of the game (how do you win):
Problem solving Strategies you used to complete levels: