Problem Solving with Puzzles
It has been said that the first rule of creativity is to break the rules. (The second rule is that you've got to know the rules to break them!) Problem solving is more than just cranking numbers through your calculator. It involves seeing the world from different points of view and trying hard not to let your preconceived notions about a particular problem get in your way of solving it. One way to succeed at creative problem solving is to practice. It's like anything else—the more you practice, the better you get.
There are many strategies used for solving problems. The following three-step approach to solving problems can be useful when answering both numeric and nonnumeric problems.
Step 1. Analyze the problem. List the knowns and unknowns, and plan how you will reach the solution.
Step 2. Solve for unknowns using the plan devised in Step 1.
Step 3. Evaluate your answer. Does the result make sense?
Now try using this three-step approach as a strategy to help you solve the logic puzzle below. Print this page and complete the puzzle as best you can. The chart below the clues may help you visualize and document the information you learn from the clues.
Dante and his three friends are working in a row at different lab stations to identify different elements in their chemistry class. Two of the elements are solids, one is a liquid, and one is a gas. Use the clues and the chart below to figure out what color element is located at each lab station. (Hint: No two elements have the same color).
- The student with the yellow element sits between the student with a white element and the student with a silver element.
- The student with the liquid element sits between Alanna and the student with the clear element.
- One student with a solid element sits next to the student with the white element.
- The liquid element is silver.
- Dante's element is a gas.
- Tony sat next to the student with the gaseous element.
- Mary only sits next to one student. That student is identifying a yellow element.
- A student dropped the yellow element at the second lab station.
- One of the two solid elements is white.
- Alanna is angry with Dante and will not sit next to him.
- The student with the white element does not sit next to Tony.
- One of the solid elements is located at lab station two.
