Chapter 10: Problem Solving

Question 1

5 parts of a problem

Answer 1

1. initial/current state
2. goal state
3. givens
4. obstacles
5. means

Question 2

initial/current state

Answer 2

• where the solver begins

Question 3

goal state

Answer 3

• state in which the problem is solved & obstacle no longer remains

Question 4

givens

Answer 4

• aspects of a problem that are known in advance
• can help or impede finding solution
• explicit or implicit

Question 5

means

Answer 5

• actions or steps that someone takes to solve problem
• cognitive operations & physical operations

Question 6

obstacles

Answer 6

• anything that impedes a direct route from initial state to goal state
• unfamiliar domain, don’t have experience w it before

Question 7

Posner’s train & birds problem

Answer 7

• the way the question is framed encourages us to build representation around the bird BUT this is impossible
• representation that is focused on the trains is easier to solve b/c all you need to know is that the bird has been flying constantly

Question 8

Simon & Newel’s problem space

Answer 8

• define problem solving as a search through physical or cognitive space
• step by step process in search for correct solution
• a problem space is all the possible solution paths that connect initial state to goal state

Question 9

algorithm

Answer 9

• guaranteed answer BUT may take time or lots of steps
• ex: math formula

Question 10

heuristic

Answer 10

• short cut that relies on our knowledge
• not always guaranteed
• ex: instead of using a recipe you can use general knowledge about how to cool something

Question 11

hill climbing

Answer 11

• a search heuristic
• each step takes current state & moves it closer to the end state
• you only consider things that will help you reach goal vs move away from it
• relies on similarity
• subject to local maxima

Question 12

tower of hanoi

Answer 12

• means-end example
• subgoals that you can accomplish before the final goal

Question 13

3 hobbits & 3 orcs problem

Answer 13

• means-end example
• need to work backwards & solve it by using subgoals

Question 14

Dunker’s candle problem

Answer 14

• transforming/re-representing example
• goal: mount candle to wall to light the room
• control condition: Ps get candles, tacks & empty box
• functional fixedness condition: box contains candles & tacks

RESULTS
- function of object in functional fixedness condition is constrained by what it is currently doing
- ppl struggle to shift approach so they only saw box as holding the tacks vs something they could use

Question 15

insight problems

Answer 15

• unable to be solved at first
• incubation or different representation may allow for an insight