Lecture 19: problem solving

Question 1

A problem consists of some _____ state in which a person begins and a ____ state that is to be attained, plus a non-obvious way of getting from the first to the second

Answer 1

initial

goal

Question 2

well-structured problems

Answer 2

completely specified starting conditions, goal state, and methods for achieving the goal (geometry proofs)

Question 3

ill-structured problems

Answer 3

some aspects are not completely specified

Question 4

stages of problem solving

Answer 4

form a representation
construct a plan
execute plan
evaluate

Question 5

problem representation

Answer 5

for many problems, the representation may make it easier or harder to solve

Question 6

analogies

Answer 6

retrieve a representation of a problem from memory that is similar to the problem you currently face

Question 7

functional fixedness

Answer 7

see an object as having only a fixed, familiar function

Question 8

maier’s rope problem

Answer 8

demonstrates functional fixedness

Question 9

algorithms

Answer 9

completely specified sequence of steps that is guaranteed to produce an answer

Question 10

heuristics

Answer 10

“rule of thumb”

Question 11

means-end analysis

Answer 11

identify the largest difference between current state and goal state
set as a subgoal reducing that difference

Question 12

problem solving: working baskwards

Answer 12

transform goal state so it is more similar to the initial state

Question 13

T or F: in chess, experts memory is way better than beginners

Answer 13

False. It was no better