On the role of creative thinking in problem posing

This paper addresses the relationship between creative thinking and problem posing as well as problem posing tasks in mathematics domains. Empirical studies were conducted to investigate on relationships and on tasks. Results of a study on arithmetic problem posing and its replication suggested that fluency is general in verbal creativity and problem posing, but flexibility is specific in problem posing. Further investigations into general mathematical problem posing were also carried out, having each of ninety-six elementary school children of Taiwan completing 18 problem posing test items in the Test on General Problem Posing. Results suggested that a general, rather than specific, problem posing competence exists in children and can be measured by the test.     

The Impact of Problem Posing on Elementary Teachers' Beliefs About Mathematics and Mathematics Teaching

This study investigated the impact of incorporating problem posing in elementary classrooms on the beliefs held by elementary teachers about mathematics and mathematics teaching. Teachers participated in a year‐long staff development project aimed at facilitating the incorporation of problem posing into their classrooms. Beliefs were examined via pre‐ and postsurvey. Results indicated a positive impact on their beliefs about mathematics and mathematics instruction. Data from open‐ended written responses verified the impact of problem posing on the teachers and their classrooms. Based on these findings, it is recommended that problem posing be incorporated into all professional learning and undergraduate education programs.     

Problem Posing at All Levels in the Calculus Classroom

This article explores the use of problem posing in the calculus classroom using investigative projects. Specially, four examples of student work are examined, each one differing in originality of problem posed. By allowing students to explore actual questions that they have about calculus, coming from their own work or class discussion, or questions arising from studying supplementary material, all students can successfully engage in problem posing.     

Problem on small motions of ideal rotating relaxing fluid

We study an evolution problem on small motions of the ideal rotating relaxing fluid in bounded domains. We begin from the problem posing. Then we reduce the problem to a second-order integrodifferential equation in a Hilbert space. Using this equation, we prove a strong unique solvability problem for the corresponding initial-boundary value problem.     

On the Isaacs equation of differential games of fixed duration

The conditions under which the value function of fixed-duration differential games satisfies the Isaacs equation are relaxed.The author thanks Professor L. D. Berkovitz for posing the problem.     

A heuristic for the long-term electricity generation planning problem using the Bloom and Gallant formulation

Long-term power planning is a stochastic problem often confronted by electrical utilities in liberalized markets. One can model it for profit maximization—using market-price estimation functions for each interval—by posing it as a quadratic programming problem with some linear equalities and an exponential number of load-matching linear inequality constraints.     

On the discrete-time regulator problem in infinite-dimensional spaces

The linear, discrete-time regulator problem is considered in infinite-dimensional spaces without posing in advance any positivity conditions on quadratic criterion. The convergence of the finite-time optimum solution is studied, when time increases to infinity with a stable, stabilizable, and detectable system.The author thanks Professors P. Karttunen and H. Koivo for helpful discussions regarding this note.     

Asymptotics of the fundamental solution of the cauchy problem for a hyperbolic equation of second order containing a large parameter

An asymptotic expansion of the fundamental solution of the Cauchy problem for a linear hyperbolic equation containing a large parameter is constructed in this paper. The coefficients of the equation are assumed to be infinitely differentiable. The expansion obtained admits termwise differentiation.Translated from Zapiski Nauchnykh Seminarov Leningradskogo Otdeleniya Matematicheskogo Instituta im. V. A. Steklova AN SSSR, Vol. 104, pp. 93–101, 1981.The author wishes to thank V. M. Babich for posing the problem and for his constant attention to the work.     

Uniqueness of the solution of stationary acoustic problems for reinforced plates

A plate reinforced by ribs and placed in an absorbing acoustic medium is considered. The uniqueness of the solution of the stationary acoustic problem for this system is established. The connection of the uniqueness problem with the optical theorem is discussed.Translated from Zapiski Nauchnykh Seminarov Leningradskogo Otdeleniya Matematicheskogo Instituta im. V. A. Steklova AN SSSR, Vol. 104, pp. 14–19, 1981.The author is grateful to D. P. Kouzov for posing the problem and for valuable discussions.     

On the best approximation in the mean of continuous functions by polynomials,which are majorized by a given function

We discuss the problem of the best approximation in the mean of functions, which are continuous on a segment, by the polynomials in a differentiable Chebyshev system that do not exceed a given differentiable function. We prove that the extremal polynomial is unique and develop its characteristic properties.Translated from Matematicheskie Zametki, Vol. 11, No. 4, pp. 365–374, April, 1972.The author thanks A. L. Garkavi for posing the problem.     

On the invariance principle for sums of independent identically distributed random variables

The paper deals with the invariance principle for sums of independent identically distributed random variables. First it compares the different possibilities of posing the problem. The sharpest results of this theory are presented with a sketch of their proofs. At the end of the paper some unsolved problems are given.     

Asymptotic optimality of binomial plans of fixed sample size in the class of plans with bounded average sample size

Asymptotic optimality is proved for a plan of fixed sample size in the class of complete plans of bounded average sample size for the problem of unbiased estimation of a binomial probability with respect to a convex polynomial loss function.Translated from Zapiski Nauchnykh Seminarov Leningradskogo Otdeleniya Matematicheskogo Instituta im. V. A. Steklova AN SSSR, Vol. 43, pp. 88–93, 1974.The author expresses his gratitude to Yu. V. Linnik and A. M. Kagan for posing the problem and for their interest.     

Problem modification as a tool for detecting cognitive flexibility in school children

This paper presents the results of an experiment in which fourth to sixth graders with above-average mathematical abilities modified a given problem. The experiment found evidence of links between problem posing and cognitive flexibility. Emerging from organizational theory, cognitive flexibility is conceptualized through three primary constructs: cognitive variety, cognitive novelty, and changes in cognitive framing. Among these components, changes in cognitive framing could be effectively detected in problem-posing situations, giving a relevant indication of students’ creative potential. The students’ capacity to generate coherent and consistent problems in the context of problem modification may indicate the existence of a strategy of functional type for generalizations, which seems to be specific to mathematical creativity.     

An application of interactive multi-criteria optimization to air pollution control

In this paper a problem of air pollution control is studied, posing it as a multi-objective control problem of partial differential equations. The original problem, dealing with the optimal management of a set of industrial plants inside a populated area, is formulated by means of the diffusion transport equation, including a linear reaction term and source terms modelled by Dirac deltas. Introducing adjoint state techniques, the problem transforms into a problem of multi-objective optimization in Banach spaces, where the large number of objective functions discourages the complete search of its Pareto front. Therefore, in order to solve the problem, two interactive methods of multi-objective programming are proposed: the VIA and the STEM algorithms. Finally, the paper illustrates how to combine both algorithms to solve in a more effective way a realistic problem posed in the Metropolitan Area of Guadalajara (Mexico).     

Problem on small motions and normal oscillations of capillary viscous liquids in rotating vessels

The new recent results of the author are applied to study the problem. We begin from the problem posing. Then we consider the problem as a system of operator equations in a Hilbert space. Further, the initial-boundary value problem is reduced to the Cauchy problem for the abstract parabolic equation; this allows us to prove the unique solvability theorem. Then we study normal oscillations of the hydraulic system under the assumption of static stability with respect to the linear approximation. We prove results about the spectrum of the problem and prove that the system of root functions (eigenfunctions and associated functions) form a basis. Also, we prove that if the static stability assumption is not satisfied, then the inversion of Lagrange’s theorem on the stability is valid.     

On the hypercompleteness of locally convex spaces

We give an example of a hypercomplete space that does not satisfy the Krein-Shmul'yan condition.Translated from Matematicheskii Zametki, Vol. 13, No. 2, pp. 297–302, February, 1973.I wish to express my gratitude to O. G. Smolyanov for posing the problem.     

Problem of path connections in graphs

A generalization is considered of a problem that arises in the design of electronic equipment — the tracing of printed circuits. The generalization is proved to be NP-complete in the sense sused by Cook and Karp.Translated from Zapiski Nauchnykh Seminarov Leningradskogo Otdeleniya Matematicheskogo Instituta im. V. A. Steklova AN SSSR, Vol. 68, pp. 26–29, 1977.In conclusion, the author expresses his gratitude to G. V. Orlovskom for posing the problem, and for his attention to the work.     

The Method of Smooth Domains in the Equilibrium Problem for a Plate with a Crack

A free boundary problem is considered of the equilibrium of an elastic plate with a crack. We suppose that some boundary mutual nonpenetration conditions are given on the crack faces in the form of simultaneous equalities and inequalities. We suggest a new approach to posing the problem in a smooth domain although it was stated in a domain with cuts originally. We treat the constraints on the components of the displacement vector and stress tensor on the crack faces as interior constraints, i.e., constraints given on subsets of the smooth domain of a solution.     

Pre-service teachers' free and structured mathematical problem posing

This exploratory study examined how pre-service teachers (PSTs) pose mathematical problems for free and structured mathematical problem-posing conditions. It was hypothesized that PSTs would pose more complex mathematical problems under structured posing conditions, with increasing levels of complexity, than PSTs would pose under free posing conditions, because the structured posing condition would guide PSTs to more closely consider the mathematical relationships in a posing situation. Sixty-five PSTs – 61 participating in a written assessment and 4 participating in task-based interviews – responded to problem-posing tasks under free or structured posing conditions. Two-way independent samples t-tests and chi-square tests were used to test the hypothesis, along with a qualitative analysis of the task-based interviews. We found that while the task format had limited impact on the complexity of problems posed, PSTs in the structured-posing condition may have more closely attended to the mathematical concepts in each task, and may have also impacted their process of posing problems than those in the free posing condition.