This document discusses problem solving and provides examples of problems. It discusses barriers to problem solving like lack of practice, fear of failure, and time pressure. It then provides tips for overcoming these barriers like gaining knowledge, practicing problems for fun, and including others. Finally, it outlines principles of problem solving like understanding the problem fully, devising a plan, carrying out the plan, and checking if the solution can be improved. The overall message is that regular practice is needed to become better at problem solving and overcome psychological barriers.

1. PROBLEM SOLVING
Dr.S.Lovelyn Rose
PSGCollege ofTechnology

2. Problems
 Stephen was looking at a photo. Someone asked
him, "Whose picture are you looking at?" He
replied: "I don't have any brother or sister, but
this man's father is my father's son." So, whose
picture was Stephen looking at?
 There was a robbery in which a lot of goods were
stolen. The robber(s) left in a truck. It is known
that : (1) Nobody else could have been involved
other than A, B and C. (2) C never commits a
crime without A's participation. (3) B does not
know how to drive. So, is A innocent or guilty?

3. Problems
 A list contains repeated numbers. All the
numbers are repeated odd number of times
except one number which is repeated an even
number of times. Find that number.
 Given a sequence of numbers in order. i.e.
{0,1,2,…n}. One number in the sequence is
missing. Find the missing number.

4. Problem
 The farmer wants to get his goat, wolf and
cabbage to the other side of the river. His boat
isn't very big and it can only carry him and either
his goat, his wolf or his cabbage. Now.....if he
leaves the goat alone with the cabbage, the goat
will gobble up the cabbage. If he leaves the wolf
alone with the goat, the wolf will gobble up the
goat. When the farmer is present, the goat and
cabbage are safe from being gobbled up by their
predators.
 How does the farmer manage to get everything
safely to the other side of the river?

5. PROBLEM SOLVING IS
EASIER SAID THAN DONE

6.  Did u try?
 Or is it not for people like you?
 How long did u take?
 Immediately
 Took a looooong time
 What if you were not able to answer any question?
 Can u never solve a problem
 How did u formulate the solution?
 Knowledge
 Intelligence

7.  Did u panic that some one else might come with
an answer before you?
 Were you waiting for some one else to find the
solution?
 Do you have a solution – but decided not to say it
loud
 To err is wrong
 Did you try finding the answer with your friend?
 Did you understand the question?

9. Why these barriers?
 Used to rote learning
 Haven’t been taught to be creative
 Lack of exposure to these types of problems
 Fear of under-performing
 Stops the thought process
 Time limit
 Makes us panic
Optimist International 9
What are some other barriers that get in our way?

10.  Remember the first time you learnt to ride a
cycle or bike or car
 Got it the first time?????

12. How to overcome?
 Equip with the right knowledge
 If you are not used to solving problems
 Do not panic
 No one learns when upset
 Set aside time to make it fun
 Practice makes perfect
 Include other people in the creative
thinking process with you

13. Principles in Problem Solving
Understand
the
problem
Make a
plan
Carry out
the plan
Can u make
the
solution
better?

14. Understand the problem
 What are you asked to find or show?
 Can you restate the problem in your own words?
 Can you think of a picture or a diagram that
might help you understand the problem?
 Is there enough information to enable you to find
a solution?
 Do you understand all the words used in stating
the problem?
 Do you need to ask a question to get the answer?

15. Devise a plan
 Guess and check
 Eliminate possibilities
 Look for a pattern
 Draw a picture
 Solve a simpler problem
 Work backward
 Use a formula
 Be creative

16. IT'S NOT THAT
I'M SO SMART,
IT'S JUST THAT
I STAY WITH
PROBLEMS
LONGER.
Albert Einstein