Problem Solving for Elementary School Math Teachers Essay

In every teaching discipline, a strategy is usually employed in working out a problem, and in mathematics, the problem-solving process is employed. Problem solving process is a series that is used to solve a problem instead of solving the problem through intuition or memory but by phases of analysis and at the same employs thinking and logic. In a mathematical perspective, there are four steps: understanding the problem, devising a plan, executing the plan and reflecting on the issue (Alfred, 2007, pp. 46). Usually the first step is looking for clues that form the basis of understanding the problem. Basics of the question are digested and the clue terms are analyzed and understood. This is through obtaining the facts that can help in solving the problem and previous knowledge on the question can be brought into use. The next step is devising a plan that will be employed in working out the solution to the problem. The game plan should be defined and trying to flash back whether such a problem as ever occurred. Strategies are developed that will help in solving the question and strategies like employing formulas and simplification are analyzed. At this, time the order and appropriate formulas that will be employed are checked. Strategies that have been developed are used to solve the problem. Each step is dealt with depending on the conditions of that question. In solving the problem, operators, number sentence and structure are employed. This is the third step that indicates how the mathematical problem is solved. The final part is checking the process or reflecting whether the right question is answered and the right style is employed. At this phase questions such as how the problem was solved, what strategy was employed and whether the right steps were followed comes into play. Solving any mathematical problem, there are certain numbers and operands / functions that can be applied. Natural numbers is common during counting and includes the countable numbers: 1, 2, 3 †¦ which leads to whole numbers when 0 is included: 0, 1, 2, 3. They then gives birth to integers that combine natural and whole numbers: -2, -1, 0, 1, 2. Rational numbers in most cases are the fractions that results due to dividing of integers (Kamala, 2004, pp. 18). Integer division results into decimal numbers that may be either repeating or terminating. Those numbers that are non-terminating decimals, non-repetitive are irrational and examples are the pi and sqrt 2. However, when numbers are expressed as a fraction of number in relation with 100 is termed as percentage. The percent sign (%) is usually employed. The combination of irrational numbers and integer numbers results in real numbers. This is real numbers because there are the complex numbers that are formed by imaginary numbers. To bring the different numbers together to solve a problem operands are employed. Some of the common operands are add, subtract, multiply and divide (James, 2003, pp. 124). Number theory deals with properties of integers and methods that are used to manipulate them. On the other hand, sets are used to define those distinct objects. When the sets are arranged in symbolic form and with the help of mathematical notation yields the number system. A mathematical teacher has to know the difference between numbers so that the teacher can easily manipulate any computation requirements. Differentiating between integers and complex numbers because of the introduction of function i in imaginary numbers will enable the understanding of space designs and structures. Teachers’ ability in understanding the different number system and the methods that can be used in solving the problems at the required phases: problem solving steps is important in developing the student logic and thinking capability. The aspect of mathematical operation ability and different number system has expanded personal knowledge in knowing that there are many and different numbers that can be worked on (James, 2003, pp. 124). The relation between this numbers is small e. g. , the difference between whole numbers and natural numbers is the introduction of zero. Additionally, the use of problem solving steps makes it easy to solve a problem and develop the logic that the students will have to apply in different mathematical computations. Mathematics is an important discipline that is usually employed in different fields. Its application to one field is the same to some extent when employed to another discipline. Problem solving understating is important so that the concept that is behind the computation should stay in the brain for a longer time. The four phases that is used in mathematical computation develops the logic and thinking. References Alfred, W. (2007). An Introduction to Mathematics. New York: Kessinger Publishing C. , pp. pp. 45 – 49 James, L. (2003). World Mathematical Operations. London: Cambridge University Press, pp. 123 – 127 Kamala, M. (2004). Introduction to Computational Mathematics. New York: Prentice Hall Publishing, pp. 16 – 19