Engineering applications for demonstrating mathematical problem-solving methods at the secondary education level

A method for teaching problem-solving skills to mathematicsstudents is presented. By subtly incorporating engineering applications,the students are simultaneously exposed to an effective outreachprogramme. The process includes offering a complex problem thatchallenges students’ abilities. Before allowing the studentsto become frustrated, the students are directed to a familiarproblem, which involves an intuitive mathematical solution.The process is completed by demonstrating how the complex problemis similar to the familiar problem and solvable by the samemathematical model.