How to Solve It

George Polya's 1945 book How to Solve It (ISBN 0691080976) is a small volume describing methods of problem-solving. It suggests the following steps when solving a mathematical problem:

1. First, you have to understand the problem.
2. After understanding, then make a plan.
3. Carry out the plan.
4. Look back on your work. How could it be better?

His book contains a dictionary-style set of strategies, but is not a cook-book. For example:

• Working backward from the goal to the start.
• Looking for a similar problem.

See also

• Heuristic