Thinking Like a Detective

Problem-solving is all about breaking big problems into smaller steps. Patterns help us predict what comes next and find solutions faster.

Strategies to Solve Problems

• Look for Keywords: Words like 'sum,' 'difference,' or 'product' tell you which operation to use.
• Draw a Picture or Diagram: Visuals can make tricky problems clearer.
• Guess and Check: Try a solution and see if it works.

Recognizing Patterns

Patterns are repeated arrangements of numbers or objects. Spotting them is key to solving sequences and logic puzzles.

• Arithmetic Pattern: The difference between numbers is always the same (\(2, 4, 6, 8, ...\)).
• Geometric Pattern: Each number is multiplied by the same amount (\(3, 6, 12, 24, ...\)).

Real-World Power

Problem-solving and pattern recognition are in everything from video games to figuring out your schedule!