Which of the following is most appropriate strategy for teaching students to solve mathematical problems ?

The correct option is Students should be encouraged to view a problem from many perspectives.

Explanation:

In mathematics education, problem-solving is a core process that promotes critical thinking, flexibility, and deeper conceptual understanding. Encouraging students to view a problem from multiple perspectives allows them to explore different strategies, make connections between concepts, and build problem-solving resilience.

Why other options are less appropriate:

1. Guess and verify approach should be strictly discouraged: Trial and error or "guess and check" is actually a valid heuristic strategy in mathematics that helps students build intuition and refine their understanding.
2. The list of formulae required for solving the given set of problems should be provided in the beginning: Simply providing formulas promotes rote memorization rather than meaningful problem-solving and conceptual comprehension.
3. Teacher should begin by explaining the steps required for obtaining the solutions of the problems: Direct instruction of fixed procedures limits student inquiry, creativity, and autonomous problem-solving capabilities.