Fifty Ways to Work A Problem”

lyrics copyright 1998, 2000 Lawrence Mark Lesser; all rights reserved
may be sung to the tune of Paul Simon’s "Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover"

       Real-life problems are open-ended, typic'ly,
     But we can solve them with some strategy.
     With the tools and rules between you and me, 
     There must be fifty ways to work a problem.
 
     We'll divide and conquer till we cut it down to size; 
     We'll make a model and visualize.
     We'll use computers when it seems wise-
     There must be fifty ways to work a problem!
 
     Chorus: 
     Just say what's known, Joan,
     and what's to find, Caroline.
     What rings a bell, Nell,
     to what we've done?
     Make a plan, Stan, follow it through, Sue,
     Try to extend, Ken, and we'll be done!
 
     Sometimes the key is askin' what something means; 
     Sometimes analogies or an inductive scheme
     -- Sometimes on our own, sometimes in a team,
     There must be fifty ways to work a problem.
 
     We'll work it backwards, then try a guess-
     If our first try won't fly, we won't get depressed,
     We'll find a way that works,
     there may not be one that's "best"
     Of the fifty ways to work a problem!
 
     (Repeat chorus twice)