The mathematical processes can be seen as the processes through which students acquire and
apply mathematical knowledge and skills. These processes are interconnected. Problem solving
and communicating have strong links to all the other processes. A problem-solving approach
encourages students to reason their way to a solution or a new understanding. As students
engage in reasoning, teachers further encourage them to make conjectures and justify solutions,
orally and in writing.The communication and reflection that occur during and after the process
of problem solving help students not only to articulate and refine their thinking but also to see
the problem they are solving from different perspectives. This opens the door to recognizing
the range of strategies that can be used to arrive at a solution. By seeing how others solve a
problem, students can begin to reflect on their own thinking (a process known as “metacognition”)
and the thinking of others, and to consciously adjust their own strategies in order to
make their solutions as efficient and accurate as possible.