George Polya, an eminent mathematician defines it as an act to:
- find a way where none is known;
- find a way out of difficulty;
- find a way around an obstacle;
- attain a desired end that is not immediately attainable by direct means.
What is a problem?
A problem is an inability to proceed directly to a solution despite an awareness of the situation and an interest in resolving it.
The following are examples of different types of problems:
- A word problem
- A problem in symbolic form
- A non-routine or unfamiliar problem (as in puzzles or logic problems)
- A real world problem
- An investigative problem
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