- First of all the given problems can be calculated for concrete examples, as a basis to identify and calculate patterns and structures, as a "supplier of ideas" to set up a general term. This strategy can be supported by using a spreadsheet.
- First you can create a construction like a drawing to visualize the problem. The technology offers, unlike a paper drawing, the opportunity to make the situation dynamic, so that a further foundation is created to identify solution ideas and structures. A geometry software can thus be very useful.
- If you immediately recognize a general term which is interpreted as a function, it is useful to look at the graphs of functions or reshape the term so that the optimal value can be seen easily.
But before you integrate the optimization problems in the classroom (classroom activities and materials for teaching) we would like to give you the opportunity to solve three tasks on your own. Before you start solving the given problems, get an overview and think about different possible solutions and strategies.
After that, solve the tasks using a geometrical way, an algebraic way, a numerical way and a graphical way and get to know the different technologies. While working on the problems you don't only get to know the different technologies but also the potential and advantages of the technologies and perhaps also the limitations and difficulties.
And what will happen if you do not know what to do next? There are various types of help available (technical guides).
You will find hints for the different approaches (geometrical, graphical, algebraic and numerical)
- a short electronic version
- a long electronic version
- a short paper version
- a long paper version