Problem-Solving Strategies in Mathematics: From Common Approaches to Exemplary Strategies

by Alfred S. Posamentier, Stephen Krulik

This book introduces ten problem-solving strategies by first presenting the strategy and then applying it to problems in elementary mathematics. In doing so, first the common approach is shown, and then a more elegant strategy is provided. Elementary mathematics is used so that the reader can focus on the strategy and not be distracted by some more sophisticated mathematics.

Genres: Mathematics

188 pages, Hardcover

First published March 5, 2015

About the author

Alfred S. Posamentier (born October 18, 1942) is among the most prominent American educators in the country and is a lead commentator on American math and science education, regularly contributing to The New York Times and other news publications. He has created original math and science curricula, emphasized the need for increased math and science funding, promulgated criteria by which to select math and science educators, advocated the importance of involving parents in K-12 math and science education, and provided myriad curricular solutions for teaching critical thinking in math.

Dr. Posamentier was a member of the New York State Education Commissioner’s Blue Ribbon Panel on the Math-A Regents Exams. He served on the Commissioner’s Mathematics Standards Committee, which redefined the Standards for New York State. And he currently serves on the New York City schools’ Chancellor’s Math Advisory Panel.

Posamentier earned a Ph.D. in mathematics education from Fordham University (1973), a Master’s degree in mathematics education from the City College of the City University of New York (1966) and an A.B. degree in mathematics from Hunter College of the City University of New York.

Posamentier was born in Manhattan in New York City, the son of Austrian immigrants. He has one daughter (Lisa, born in 1970), and one son (David, born in 1978). He resides in River Vale, New Jersey and is the current Dean of the School of Education and professor of mathematics education at Mercy College, New York. He was formerly professor of mathematics education and dean of the School of Education at The City College of the City University of New York, where he spent the previous 40 years.

Reviews

[Tom Schulte · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a guide and classroom resource that can also assist an independent student looking to broaden his or her problem-solving strategies. The level is appropriate for secondary education. The reader can easily be the student looking for a self-contained overview to take at any pace or the educator looking to interject fresh material into a lecture or lesson. Each of the ten strategies present contrasting solutions in a format meant to provide insight into the problem. Only elementary mathematics is used as the goal is to improve the student’s procedure, not enlarge on mathematical techniques or even increase mathematical sophistication, per se. In the suite of examples, I feel the authors missed three opportunities: helpful duplication for contrasting, editing out unnecessarily similar examples, and including analytic geometry techniques appropriate for the target audience...

[Look for my entire review up at MAA Reviews.]