It should be apparent to you that a problem usually can be solved in
more than one way. But finding a solution method often can be made
more complicated by the numbers used or the context in which the problem
finds itself. One simple way to make a problem more manageable and
that usually yields good results is to change the given problem into an
equivalent one that may be easier to solve—that is, by simplifying the
numbers given in the problem. This can give the students insight into how
to solve the original problem. In some cases, the simpler problem might
only involve using numbers that are easier for the student to work with,
but it may also be simplified by considering a simpler case of the problem.
Once students have solved the simpler version, they can proceed to the
original (perhaps more complex) problem.