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Working Backwards - Escobal

Working backwards is a problem-solving strategy that involves starting from the final solution and reversing each step to reach the beginning. This method is particularly useful for problems with a clear end result but less obvious beginnings, often employing inverse operations in mathematics. Examples illustrate how to apply this technique in various scenarios, such as determining ages and solving elimination problems in competitions.

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RONEL
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11 views4 pages

Working Backwards - Escobal

Working backwards is a problem-solving strategy that involves starting from the final solution and reversing each step to reach the beginning. This method is particularly useful for problems with a clear end result but less obvious beginnings, often employing inverse operations in mathematics. Examples illustrate how to apply this technique in various scenarios, such as determining ages and solving elimination problems in competitions.

Uploaded by

RONEL
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PROBLEM SOLVING WORKING

BACKWARDS
WHAT IS WORKING BACKWARDS?

It is to start with the final solution


and work back one step at a time to get to the
beginning.This strategy is used to solve problems
that include a number of linked
factors or events,where some of the
information has not been provided,usually at the
beginning of the problem.

In general,problems that list a series of


events or sequence of steps can be solved
by working backwards.

In math,these are called inverse


operations.When using backwards
strategy,each operation must be reversed to get
back to the beginning.

When to Use Working


Backwards to Solve
a Problem
>The first characteristics of this is that the end of
the
problem will have a result that is very
clear,where as the beginning of the problem will
be less obvious.

>This is a good indication that working


backwards is a good process to use.

How to use Working


Backwards to Solve a Problem
In math,this strategy is called inverse operation.
When you are solving a problem by starting at the
end and working backwards,any mathematical
operations you come across will have to be
reversed.

>Example:

?
If ÷8×2=14,then 14÷2×8=56.
Jack is 35 years younger than Karen. Frank is
half of Jack's age. Jennifer is 17 years older
than Frank.If Jennifer is 35 years old,how old is
Karen?
Solution:
Jennifer is 35 and she's 17 years
older than Frank.When using the

opposite operation,plus becomes


minus.Therefore,

Frank is 35-17 =18.Frank is


half Jack's age so the opposite
operation is 18 ×2 =36.Jack is 35
years younger than Karen, so
36+35=71.Therefore,Karen
is 71 years old.
2. Starting with the answer and
working backwards.
Example:
In a dancing competition all the
contestants started dancing
together.After three minutes half
the people were eliminated.During
the next ten minutes half of the
remaining were eliminated.At
the 15-minute mark,half again
were
eliminated,and at the 20-minute
mark,half of those still
remaining were eliminated.In the
last 2
minutes,one more contestant was
eliminated.Leaving a winner of the
competition.How many dancers
were there in the beginning?
Solution:
Start with the winner-1.
Last 2 minutes-1+1=2.
After 20 minutes-2×2 =4.
After 15 minutes-4×2 =8.
After 10 minutes-8×2
=16.
After 3 minutes-16×2
=32.
Therefore, 32 dancers
started.

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