What is a mathematician?
A mathematician is someone who uses knowledge of mathematics in his or her work, typically to solve real world problems.
When mathematicians become interested in a problem they:
- Explore the problem to collect and organise data about it.
- Discuss and record notes and diagrams.
- Seek and find patterns or connections in the organised data.
- Make and test predictions based on the patterns or connections.
- Look in their strategy 'toolbox' for problem solving strategies which could help.
- Look in their skills toolbox for mathematical skills which could help.
- Check their answer and think about what else they can learn from it.
- Publish their results.
A mathematician's strategy toolbox includes:
Do I know a similar problem?
Guess, check and improve
Try a simpler problem
Write an equation
Make a list or table
Work backwards
Act it out
Draw a picture or graph
Make a model
Look for a pattern
Try all possibilities
Seek an exception
Break the problem into smaller parts
Do I know a similar problem?
Guess, check and improve
Try a simpler problem
Write an equation
Make a list or table
Work backwards
Act it out
Draw a picture or graph
Make a model
Look for a pattern
Try all possibilities
Seek an exception
Break the problem into smaller parts