Exercise 2.2 (p.
96-97)
Solve each problem using Polya’s four-step problem-solving strategy.
1. The elimination stage of the UAAP women’s volleyball competition is played in two
rounds where each competing team plays against each of the other teams once in every round.
How many games are played in the elimination round if there are eight teams in a given season?
i. Understand the Problem
ii. Device a Plan
We could apply the statistical formula, known as combination, to solve the problem. To find the
total arrangement of each teams. After finding the combination, it will be the total games played
since that in one game there are 2 rounds.
C= n!
nr (n−r)!r!
Let:
n = teams
r = team competing with another team
iii. Carry out the plan
C2 = n! = 8! = 28 games.
(n−r)!r! (8−2)!2!
8
iv. Look back
Team 1 Team 2 Team 3 Team
4 Team 5 Team 6 Team 7 Team 8
Team 1 Game 1 Game 2
Game 3 Game 4 Game 5 Game 6 Game 7
Team 2 Game 8
Game 9 Game 10 Game 11 Game 12 Game 13
Team 3
Game 14 Game 15 Game 16 Game 17 Game 18
Team 4
Game 19 Game 20 Game 21 Game 22
Team 5
Game 23 Game 24 Game 25
Team 6
Game 26 Game 27
Team 7
Game 28
Team 8
Each game consists of 2 rounds and it is not repetitive.
2. Find the digit that is 50 places to the right of the decimal point in the decimal
representation of the rational number.
i. Understand the Problem
Find the digit that is 50 places to the right of the decimal point in the decimal
form of the rational number. By using a sample rational number, 2/27
ii. Device a Plan
First, the rational number should be expressed in decimal form
(0.074074074074074074074…). For instance, if the third digit of a decimal number is the same
as the one in the 6th, 9th, 12th, 15th end etc., it means that any digit where the place is divisible
by 3 is the same digit found in third place.
iii. Carry out the plan
It is to note that the pattern in the decimal sequence repeats after every 3 digits. In the decimal
representation of a rational number, when looking at the 50th digit to the right of the decimal, it
is noticeable that the previous number of it is divisible by 3, meaning the number after the 3rd
digit is the same as the 50th digit.
iv. Look back
A rational number is a number which can be written in the form , where a and b
are both integers and b is not equal to 0.
3. A coffee shop is giving away a signature annual planner. In the mechanics, each number
has to collect 24 stickers to avail of the said planner, and customers can share stickers. At the end
of the promo period, Tito had the most number of stickers, more than enough to get the planner.
Unfortunately, Vic and Joey did not have enough. This is what they did: First, Tito gave Vic and
Joey as many stickers as each had; after this, Vic gave Tito and Joey as many stickers as they
had; and in turn, Joey gave Tito and Vic as many stickers as they had. At the end, each of the
three friends had exactly enough stickers to get the planner. How many stickers did each person
have at the start?
i. Understand the Problem
Find the number of presents each person had at the start.
ii. Device a Plan
Let x, y, and z be the number of stickers Tito, Vic, and Joey had at the start, respectively. Then,
follow the three steps:
● Tito gave Vic and Joey as many stickers as each had;
● Vic gave Tito and Joey as many stickers as they had; and
● Joey gave Tito and Vic as many stickers as they had.
After doing these steps, there will be three mathematical expressions, which are the number of
stickers Tito, Vic, and Joey had in the end. Since they all had the same amount of stickers and
were all able to avail the planner, then it means that they all had 24 stickers in the end. Equate all
these mathematical expressions into 24, then solve for x, y, and z.
iii. Carry out the plan
At the start, the three had these amount of stickers:
T ito : x
V ic : y
Joey : z
First, Tito gave Vic and Joey as many stickers as each had.
T ito : x − y − z
V ic : y + y = 2y
Joey : z + z = 2z
Then, Vic gave Tito and Joey as many stickers as they had.
T ito : (x − y − z) + (x − y − z) = 2x − 2y − 2z
V ic : 2y − (x − y − z) − 2z = − x + 3y − z
Joey : 2z + 2z = 4z
Lastly, Joey gave Tito and Vic as many stickers as they had
T ito : (2x − 2y − 2z) + (2x − 2y − 2z) = 4x − 4y − 4z
V ic : (− x + 3y − z) + (− x + 3y − z) = − 2x + 6y − 2z
Joey : 4z − (2x − 2y − 2z) − (− x + 3y − z) = − x − y + 7z Equating these three expressions to 24,
T ito : 4x − 4y − 4z = 24
V ic : − 2x + 6y − 2z = 24
Joey : − x − y + 7z = 24
Solving these using Matlab:
Therefore, the amount of stickers each person had from the start was:
T ito : x = 39 stickers
V ic : y = 21 stickers
Joey : z = 12 stickers
iv. Look back
In the problem, it was stated that at the start, Tito had enough stickers to avail the planner, but
Vic and Joey didn’t. This was satisfied in the results, since Tito got more than 24 stickers, while
Vic and Joey got below 24. Moreover, since there were no new stickers added throughout the
entire time, there would be the same total of stickers from the start and at the end.
At the start:
39 + 21 + 12 = 72 stickers
At the end:
24 + 24 + 24 = 72 stickers
This was also satisfied, which meant that the answers are correct.
4. Iza can earn ₱7,800 for doing 3 hours of office work and 2 hours of field work. However,
she gets ₱8,200 if she works two hours in the office and 3 hours in the field. What is the rate per
hour of Iza for doing office work and for doing field work?
i. Understand the Problem
Find the rate per hour of Iza for doing office work and for doing field work. ii. Device a Plan
Let x be the rate per hour for doing office work, and y be the rate per hour for doing field work.
She earns ₱7,800 for doing 3 hours of office work and 2 hours of field work, while ₱8,200 if she
works two hours in the office and 3 hours in the field. Convert these into two equations, then
solve for x and y.
iii. Carry out the plan
1 : 7800 = 3x + 2y
2 : 8200 = 2x + 3y
Solving these two equations using Matlab:
Therefore, the rate per hour for both office work and field work are:
Office work: x = ₱1,400 per hour
Field work: y = ₱1,800 per hour
iv. Look back
Substituting these values into equations 1 and 2,
1: 3(1400) + 2(1800) = 7800
2: 2(1400) + 3(1800) = 8200
Both equations are satisfied, and thus the answers are correct.
5. Ed’s purse contains some 10-peso, 5-peso, 1-peso, and 25-centavo coins. How many of
each type does he have if the purse has a total of ₱20.50?
i. Understand the Problem
Find how many of each 10-peso, 5-peso, 1-peso and 25-centavo coins are there in the total
amount of ₱20.50.
ii. Device a Plan
Let a = be the number of 10-peso coins
Let b = be the number of 5-peso coins
Let c = be the number of 1-peso coins
and Let d = be the number of 25-centavo coins
The total sum of given will then equal to 20.50.
Ed has to have at least one of each coin. So we could start with him having exactly one of each
and see what possibilities there are for the remaining coins.
iii. Carry out the plan
10p + 5p + 1p + 25c = 16.25p
The remaining amount he has to make is 20.50p - 16.25p = 4.25p.
Since, he can’t have any more of the 10-peso and 5-peso coins, he needs to make an amount of
4.25 with 1-peso and 25-centavo coins.
Coins Number of Coins
10-peso 1
5-peso 1
1-peso 5
25-centavo 2
Total 20.50
iv. Look back
Ed has to have at least one of each coin.
