Problem Solving Can Generate New Approaches to Mathematics: The Case of Probability

Abstract

In this article, we discuss the World Series problem, which we have used many times in our work with preservice and in-service teachers of secondary mathematics. This problem yields to multiple approaches. Furthermore, the history of the underlying problem illustrates how mathematics sometimes develops in response to the need to solve a problem, a process that we want to let our students share. In fact, we believe that this problem is a strong illustration of Stanic and Kilpatrick's (1989) metaphor that the problem is a vehicle. Those who work on (ride) the problem arrive at significant mathematics (a destination). We begin with a presentation of the vehicle, then explore several routes that students might take and notice how these routes all lead to the same destination.