In math education, which term describes the ability to find pathways to a solution when the method is not given?

• A. Memorization
• B. Computation speed
• C. Problem-solving skills
• D. Rote procedures

Answer: (C)

Being able to find pathways to a solution when no method is given is described by problem-solving skills. This means you can make sense of the problem, choose and try different strategies, and adapt your approach if the first idea doesn’t work. It’s about thinking flexibly, explaining why a path works, and using reasoning to justify your answer. Memorization focuses on recalling facts, not devising a plan; computation speed is about doing math quickly rather than finding or explaining a method; and rote procedures rely on fixed steps without considering the specific problem. For example, when faced with a word problem without a provided method, a student might model the situation, test a few plausible approaches, and explain why the chosen approach solves the problem.