Today would have been my mother’s birthday so instead of thinking about what I can give her, I will ponder and expand on one of the gifts she gave me. Like my mother—and her father before her—I became a teacher. My grandfather taught civil engineering. My mother taught the law and english. I’ve taught software engineering, martial arts and salsa dancing. Today I teach SAT math to teenagers.
Those are all very different domains. One domain involves erecting structurally sound edifices. Another is about erecting a sound legal defense. Yet another is about figuring out how to knock out your opponent before he knocks you out. But whether it is math, or writing, rhythm or fighting, success in all these domains requires one ability above all else: the ability to solve problems in real time and at a faster rate than the problems arrive.
The question I am considering is this: is there a common way to solve problems across all domains? This is on my mind as I try to teach teenaged students how to do algebra under time pressure. I know that any human being can learn to do anything given a good enough reason. What is the reason I can give my skeptical students for engaging in the struggle for finding the value of x? That it will help them get into a good college and, therefore, get a good job? Those are good reasons, but that motivation is hard to sustain in the face of the allure of texting their friends and liking a post on social media. Could there be a more compelling reason to learn algebra?
Algebra is math. Math is really nothing but a language governed by a precise and limited set of rules. In other words, it’s a system of logic. Solving a problem in math is nothing but an exercise in solving a problem of logic. And solving a problem of logic is nothing but problem solving. In other words, the steps you would need to take to solve a math problem on the SAT are not fundamentally different from the steps you would need in order to construct a bridge, defend a client from a lawsuit or lead a partner through a complex combination while keeping in time with Tito Puente.
Maybe you disagree. A sound rejoinder to all this is to point out the dearth of mathematicians competing on Dancing with the Stars. A fair point, but bear with me. I think I’ll have you convinced as I pursue my not unambitious goal of developing the universal steps for solving any problem in the universe. Or barring your full agreement, at least you will be entertained. This will be fun for both of us.
So, without further ado, let’s get to the first step. It’s an ironic first step given how much I’ve talked about logic. In the years I’ve taught children how to solve math problems I’ve yet to encounter one who wasn’t fundamentally smart enough to solve even the most complex problems. Cognitive ability has never been the issue. More often than not, however, the young student will see all the words in the problem and immediately conclude that they simply cannot solve the problem or that there is no solution possible. In the face of unfamiliar difficulty, the student simply collapses and surrenders.
Given that, the first step to solving any problem is not a step of logic but one of emotion. Step 1 of solving any problem in the known universe is to get your mind right. You need to believe that there is a solution to the problem you are facing and that you can find it. Without this first step, all the other steps are irrelevant. This is not so much a statement of confidence as it is a statement of faith. The students who hang on to this faith are the ones who wrestle with the problem until they find the solution.
So whatever problem you face, you need to believe that there is a solution and that you can find it.
How to Solve Any Problem
Step 1: Get your mind right