Problem Solving

Naturally enough, problem

solving is about solving
problems.
method + answer = solution
 method + answer = solution
• method – means used to get an answer
• answer – number, quantity or some other
entity that the problem is asking for.
• solution – whole process of solving
problem, including the method of
obtaining an answer and the answer
itself.
 Four Stages of Problem Solving
1) Understand and explore the problem;
2) Find a strategy;
3) Use the strategy to solve the problem;
4) Look back and reflect on the solution.
 Example:
The length of a rectangle is three times
more than its width. Its perimeter is 50.
solve for its sides.
 Solution:
Let x = short side
x+3=L
2x + 2(x + 3) = 50
2x + 2x + 6 = 50
4x = 50 – 6
4x = 44
x = 44/4
x = 11
 Therefore:
x = 11; shorter side of the rectangle
x + 3 = 14; length of the rectangle
Thus,
2x + 2(x + 3) = 50
2(11) + 2(14) = 50
22 + 28 = 50 √
 Example:
The sum of two numbers is 12. The sum of
two times the larger number and three
times the smaller number is 29. Find the
value of two numbers.
 Solution:
Let x = larger number
Let 12 – x = smaller number
2x + 3(12 – x) = 29
2x + 36 – 3x = 29
-x = 29 – 36
-x = -7
x = 7; larger number
12 – 7 = 5; smaller number
 Proof:
2 x 7 = 14
3 x 5 = 15
14 + 15 = 29 √
 Consumer
Mathematics
 Consumer Mathematics
presents basic math skills used in everyday
situations – paying taxes, buying food,
banking and investing, and managing a
household.
 Sales Commissions
• paid to employees or companies that sell
merchandise in stores or by calling on
costumers.
• meant to motivate sales person to sell
more.
• may be paid in addition to a salary or
instead of a salary.
• usually in real estate marketing.
 Sales Commissions
• generally a percentage of sales price of an
item.
• example:
if a person receives a 10% commission on
their sales and sells a P15,000.00 worth
of merchandise, they would earn
P1,500.00
15000 x 0.1 = 1500
 Price Discounts
• stores often sell items for a discounted
sales price.
• ex:
An item originally costs P200.00 may be
discounted by 25%.
200 x .25 = 50
200 – 50 = 150; sales price
 Most terms seen for discounted items:

• 50% off
• Save 50%
• Discounted by 50%
 Markup
• original cost plus amount of markup
• ex:
If the original cost is P400.00 and the markup is
25%, the sales price should be
400 + (400 x 0.25) = 500
100% + 25% = 125%
400 x 1.25 = 500
 Amount of Sales Tax
• determined by finding a percentage of the
purchase price.
• percentage of tax called tax rate varies
between different cities.
• ex:
If the sales tax is 6% and a P1,000.00 purchase
is made, the sales tax is
1000 x .06 = 60
 Total Price with Sales Tax
• total purchase plus the sales tax
• If the sales tax is 6% and a P1,000.00
purchase is made, the sales tax is

1000 x .06 = 60
1000 + 60 = 1060
 Shipping and Handling
• often assessed to cover the packing and
postage or shipping charges for getting
the item, usually on mail orders.
• there is frequently a minimum charge for
small orders. If the order is more than the
minimum, a shipping and handling charge
is calculated as a percent of the total
purchase price.
 Shipping and Handling
• ex:
If there is a minimum charge of P50.00 on
orders less than P500.00 or 10% of the total
order price, and your order is P650.00, the
shipping and handling would be
650 x 0.1 = 65
The total cost would be
650 + 65 = 715
 Simple Interest
• Interest = Principal x Rate x Time
• ex:
If P10,000.00 was borrowed for 2 years at a
10% interest, the interest would be
10000(2)(0.10) = 2000
The total amount that would be due
10000 + 2000 = 12000
 Simple Interest
Compound interest is similar but the total
amount due at the end of each period is
calculated an further interest is charged
against both the original principal but also
the interest that was earned during that
period.
 Unit Price of Items
• the cost for each unit.
• the unit price may be calculated to find the
cost of a single item when many items are
purchased together.
• required if the items are going to be resold
or divided among several people with
each person paying the fair share of the
cost based on how many items they
receive.
 Cost Based on Unit Price
• may be calculated when the unit cost is
known and the quantity that will be
purchased is decided.
• ex:
If a meal cost P65.00 is served for 100 persons,
the total cost is
100(65) = 6500
 Group 1 Reporters
Bengan, Catherine Rose
Castro, Karen Kae
Ebarle, Giff
Flores, Fritz
Isip, Christine
Jalad, Ma. Adela
Nombrado, Lady Dianne