George Pólya's 1945 book How to Solve It, A new aspect of Mathematical Method, is a book describing methods of problem solving. It suggests the following steps when solving a mathematical problem:

• First, you have to understand the problem.

• After understanding, then make a plan.

• Carry out the plan.

• Look back on your work. How could it be better?

Polya's work has had a large influence on mathematics textbooks. "Most formulations of a problem solving framework in U. S. textbooks attribute some relationship to Polya's problem solving stages (1945)."
 

Last updated: December 19, 2007.