Mathematical Problem Factories

Mathematical Problem Factories Synopsis

A problem factory consists of a traditional mathematical analysis of a type of problem that describes many, ideally all, ways that the problems of that type can be cast in a fashion that allows teachers or parents to generate problems for enrichment exercises, tests, and classwork. Some problem factories are easier than others for a teacher or parent to apply, so we also include banks of example problems for users. This text goes through the definition of a problem factory in detail and works through many examples of problem factories.

It gives banks of questions generated using each of the examples of problem factories, both the easy ones and the hard ones. This text looks at sequence extension problems (what number comes next?), basic analytic geometry, problems on whole numbers, diagrammatic representations of systems of equations, domino tiling puzzles, and puzzles based on combinatorial graphs. The final chapter previews other possible problem factories.