How is Math Problem Solving?
Math can be challenging sometimes especially when you don't have a plan. Problem solving helps to improve students performance at solving problems correctly. Problem solving builds students confidence and willingness to solve problems. When solving a math problem students learn the importance of solving the problem in a systematic way. Students will learning through problem solving that there can be more than one way to solve a problem; however, there are times where students must choose the appropriate strategy to solve the problem. Students' mathematical communication and terminology increases when working together with their peers; as well as, their teamwork skills by sharing their mathematical thought process. When continuing to learn and use problem solving students learn to be more proficient drawing connections between previous learned math topics with the topic they are currently learning making less of a complex problem to solve. Problem solving steps and approaches are used everyday in and outside of math. Its very important for students to understand what great value problem solving has when it comes to math. The Check Mate problem below is a great example where students must use problem solving to solve the problem. This problem is aimed for students in 6th-8th grades.
Check Mate Problem
Directions: Use problem solving skills and your knowledge of probability to solve the problem below.
Two different squares are randomly chosen from an 8x8 chessboard. What is the probability that two queens placed on the two squares can attack each other? Recall that queens in chess can attack any square in a straight line vertically, horizontally, or diagonally from their current position.
Check Mate Hint Check Mate Solution
Two different squares are randomly chosen from an 8x8 chessboard. What is the probability that two queens placed on the two squares can attack each other? Recall that queens in chess can attack any square in a straight line vertically, horizontally, or diagonally from their current position.
Check Mate Hint Check Mate Solution