MTH211 Foundations of Elementary Math 1
Fun with whole numbers.
Chapter 1
§ 1.1 Introduction to Problem Solving
- Problem Solving 4 Steps
- Understand the Problem
- Make a Plan
- Carry out the Plan
- Look Back
- Problem Soling Strategies
- Draw a picture
- Make a list or table
- Make the problem easier
- Work backwards
- Guess and Check
- Other Problems
- Handshakes
- Tower of Hanoi
- Square Tables in a row
Math Activity 1.1: Peg-Jumping Puzzle
You want to move the green pegs to the right and the red pegs to the left.
You can move one peg at a time.
A peg can move to an open adjacent hole
or can jump one peg of a different color to an open hole.
The Problem
What is the fewest number of moves needed to get the green pegs to the right and the red pegs to the left?
Hint: green pegs should only move right and red pegs should only move left.
You might want to start with a simpler problem. First, the easiest version would be one each of green and red.
What is the solution for one of each, that is, what is the fewest number of moves to get green right and red left?
Next try two of each color.
What is the solution for two of each, that is, what is the fewest number of moves to get green right and red left? Is there a pattern to the order of the moves, i.e., rights and lefts?
Work your way up to 4 of each color peg.
What is the fewest number of moves needed to get the green pegs to the right and the red pegs to the left?