The mathematical processes are interconnected. Problem solving and communicating
have strong links to all the other processes. The problem-solving process can be thought
of as the motor that drives the development of the other processes. It allows students to
make conjectures and to reason as they pursue a solution or a new understanding.
Problem solving provides students with the opportunity to make connections to their
prior learning and to make decisions about the representations, tools, and computational
strategies needed to solve the problem. Teachers should encourage students to justify their
solutions, communicate them orally and in writing, and reflect on alternative solutions.
By seeing how others solve a problem, students can begin to think about their own
thinking (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.