THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PROBLEMSOLVING TECHNIQUES IN MATHEMATICS

LEA R. DELA CRUZ

Math enthusiastic students like mathematics because every time they solve a math problem it becomes a challenge to them, a challenge that must be achieved with an answer and solution. Another reason why students love Math is that every time they experienced the problem they learned something new. For them, Math is very important because besides in school, it also takes place in our lives and is something they can use every day and almost at any time. It has never been too difficult to learn math, even though they don’t always get the right answer they know they tried their best and they feel very confident to their selves without getting disappointed because they know that at least they learned how they can solve it the next time they will encounter it.

Most of the problems used in problem-solving have more than one solution. So each of them can be approached in a variety of ways, some of which are sophisticated and some of which are less sophisticated. Usually, every learner in a class can find one approach that they can use to solve the problems. Over time, and from seeing what other students have done, teachers of Mathematics should be able to develop and extend the range of strategies that the learners have at their understanding. So, starting with the members the class in mind, problems can be found that can give every learner in the class the chance of making some progress toward a solution, either on their own or with the assistance of others in their group. Hence most students can develop from their current knowledge.

With the help of this problem-solving technique allot of teachers can bridge the gap of those learners who do not understand the lesson being discussed by the teacher. Problem solving technique focuses on the development of skills nurtured by learners within the course of mastery in understanding Mathematics.

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The author is SST III at Cristo Rey High School, Division of Tarlac Province