Problem-Solving Strategies for Efficient and Elegant Solutions : A Resource for the Mathematics Teacher

Foreword by Nobel Laureate Herbert A. Hauptman

In this book, the authors examine ten strategies which are widely used in problem- solving, both in mathematics and real-life situations. They have selected about 200 problems to illustrate these strategies enabling teachers to apply them to their regular instructional program. In many cases, the methods presented make the solution of a problem much easier, much"neater." and much more understandable - and thereby enjoyable.

Throughout the book, the authors show how each of these strategies occurs and can be applied to everyday situations. Many people alredy make use of them without realizing it. Once the reader witnesses the power of these strategies in the mathematical context, and sees their use in everyday life, they might begin to expand their applications to other fields.

Alfred S. Posamentier is professor of mathematics education and dean of the School of Education at the City College of the City University of New York. He has authored and co-authored several resource books in mathematics education for Corwin Press.

Stephen Krulik is professor of mathematics education at Temple University in Philadelphia, where he is responsible for the undergraduate and graduate preparation of mathematics teachers for Grades K-12, as well as in the inservice training of mathematics teachers at the graduate level. He teaches a wide variety of courses, among them the History of Mathematics, Methods of Teaching Mathematics, and the Teaching of Problem Solving. Before coming to Temple University, he taught mathematics in the New York City public schools for 15 years, where he created and implemented several courses designed to prepare students for the SAT examination. Nationally, Krulik has served as a member of the committee responsible for preparing the Professional Standards for Teaching Mathematics of the National Council of Teacher of Mathematics (NCTM). He was also the editor of the NCTM’s 1980 yearbook Problem Solving in School Mathematics. He is the author or co-author of more than 20 books for teachers of mathematics, including Assessing Reasoning and Problem Solving: A Sourcebook for Elementary School Teachers. He has served as a consultant to and has conducted many workshops for school district throughout the United States and Canada, as well as delivering major presentations in Austria, Hungary, Australia, and international professional meetings, where his major focus is on preparing all students to reason and problem-solve in their mathematics classroom, as well as in their lives. Krulik received his BA degree in mathematics from Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, and his MA and EdD in mathematics education from Columbia University’s Teachers College.