Problem Solving

“I Can Solve Problems” Crazy Painters LEVEL D
Plenary session The plenary sessions should be used to highlight the methods used.
Pupils should be asked to explain their solutions.
If they were to tackle a similar problem again, which strategies would they use?
Could they improve on their strategies?
Solution a. RR, RY, YR, YY
b. RR, RY, RB, YY, YR, YB, BB, BY, BR
c. RR, RY, RB, RG, YY, YR, YB, YG, BB, BY, BR, BG, GG, GB, GY, GR
d.
Number of colours
1
2
3
4
Number of
different ways
1
4
9
16
e. By following the pattern or by extending the table or by listing Maria has 25
ways to paint the wall.
Extension For 10 colours there are 100 different ways.
The rule could be described in terms of adding from the number before, or if n
colours, then number of different ways to paint the wall = n 2 .
p r o b l e m s o l v i n g A N D E N Q U I R Y 103