Philippine E-Journals

Problem Solving Heuristics of College Freshmen: A Case Analysis

Marissa L. Candelaria | Auxencia A. Limjap

Discipline: Education

 

Abstract:

The problem solving heuristics of nine college freshmen for non-routine problems in mathematics were varied. They have difficulty understanding the problems. Their solution strategies vary from trial and error with some attention paid to data and conditions in the problem to the guessing technique. They use key words which at times help them gain insight into the problem structure. While some students attempted to use algebraic solutions, none of them was successful. The predominant strategy used by the successful problem solvers is the use of key words with global understanding of the problem structure. There are no experts among the nine students. Four students are novices while five are transitional problem solvers. One transitional problem solver is close to expertise.