Adapting solution: mathematical thinking abilities that facilitate problem solving ability in students

Abstract

Abstract This article aims to present the results of the synthesis of adapting solutions in helping students solve mathematical problems. Adapting solution is a transfer strategy that adapts solutions provided in problem-solving. The selection of the right solution helps solve students’ mathematical problems by adapting to see the relationship between examples of identical problems or not identical to the given problem solutions. It is easy for students to adapt solutions to similar types of problems and the same solutions. However, what if students find two or more examples, one of which is more complicated than their assignment problem, and one of them is less complicated. Which should they choose as a more helpful guide? Alternatively, the difficulty is due to the inability to modify examples of simple problems to complex problems or vice versa. To answer the above problem formulation, in this article we will propose the use of learning strategies with adapting solutions and the proposed learning procedures of adapting solutions that are focused on facilitating students’ problem-solving abilities.