Lesson 3

Drawing pictures is just one of many techniques for solving problems. Try the problems below to experience another strategy for solving problems.

Try This 2

Try solving the following problems.

1. Time to Midnight

    

   John looked at a clock and commented that in two hours it would be half as long until midnight as it would be if it were an hour later. What time is it?
   
   
   iStockphoto/Thinkstock
2. Sports Kids Puzzle

    

   The young girls in this puzzle are Diane, Jackie, and Sarah. The young boys are Chuck and Harry.

    

   From the clues provided, determine what

   
   
   • sport each young person plays: baseball, basketball, soccer, swimming, volleyball
   • town they are from: Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Sherwood Park, St. Albert
   • their father does for a living: baker, carpenter, mechanic, real-estate agent, teacher
   
   Clue 1: The soccer player’s father is a real-estate agent. The mechanic is the father of neither Harry nor the baseball player.
   
   Clue 2: The teacher’s daughter from Red Deer is neither Jackie nor the swimmer.
   
   Clue 3: Diane is playing division 1 volleyball. Sarah’s father is not the mechanic.
   
   Clue 4: The basketball player lives in St. Albert.
   
   Clue 5: Chuck's father is a baker who neither lives nor works in Sherwood Park.
   
   Clue 6: Sarah, who lives in Calgary, is not a baseball player.
   
   Clue 7: Harry has no interest in swimming or basketball.
   
   Clue 8: The retired carpenter and his daughter drove to a competition in Edmonton, where one of the other players lives.
   
   Clue 9: Chuck was scheduled to play an away game in Red Deer but the game was rained out.
   
   Clue 10: Sarah is the only athlete who does not compete as part of a team.
   

Save your responses in your course folder.
 

Share 2

Share your solution strategies (or attempts if you were not successful) with a partner.

1. How were your strategies similar? How were they different?
2. Were all of your strategies successful?
3. Which strategy would you try the next time you solved a puzzle like this?

If required, place a summary of your discussion in your course folder.