George polya four steps to problem solving

Institutional Affiliation

According to the George Polya’s Problem Solving method, there are four steps that needs to be followed; understanding the problem, devising a plan, carrying out the plan and finally looking back and seeing if you have solved the problem.

In this project, we have to understand the problem and the problem is solving the Sudoku puzzle. Since we know the problem, we need to know if the available information that is available is enough or more information is needed. In the Sudoku puzzle, we already have enough information but more is needed so as to solve the puzzle.

The second step is to devise a plan to tackle the problem. There are many ways of solving a problem; possible strategies are used to solve the problem. For example, when solving the Sudoku puzzle, one can use trial and error method, look for a possible pattern, solve a simpler problem then tackle the puzzle or use variables.

After devising ways to solve the Sudoku puzzle, we need to carry out the plan. If the plan doesn’t work out, then start over again or one can try to find another way to solve the matter. In most cases, the first approach doesn’t really work; in that process of failing you actually accomplish something because it leads you to success by elimination.

Finally, we need to look back and ask ourselves, have we answered the question? Is your result reasonable? Is there another way of doing or solving the problem easier? If the Sudoku is fully filled solved, then we have solved the problem. If you check that no numbers in Sudoku are not contradicting, then the result is reasonable.

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References

Polya's four-step approach to problem solving (n.d) retrieved from www.hawaii.edu/suremath/why1 Polya .html