What do you think?
Rate this book
How to Solve Problems: Elements of a Theory of Problems and Problem Solving
Examples help explain the seven basic mathematical problem-solving methods, including inference, classification of action sequences, working backward, and contradiction
262 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1974
2 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 27, 2023
In general, this is quite a good book in understanding a more mechanistic approach to problem solving.
In the first few chapter the book delved into the definition of problem itself. This book define problem as composed of three types of information (i) given expressions, (ii) Operation that transform that givens and (iii) goal expressions. Within this confine, the book outline several tools that can be employed.
There are plenty of tools provided in this book from hill climbing, subgoal, contradiction and working backward. On top of that, this book also outlined the relation between problems, i.e how one can infer that one problem is related to another and thus what tools or techniques aplicable to solve the problems.
All in all, this book provide plenty of examples so one can understand how to employ the tools and techniques outlined.
In the first few chapter the book delved into the definition of problem itself. This book define problem as composed of three types of information (i) given expressions, (ii) Operation that transform that givens and (iii) goal expressions. Within this confine, the book outline several tools that can be employed.
There are plenty of tools provided in this book from hill climbing, subgoal, contradiction and working backward. On top of that, this book also outlined the relation between problems, i.e how one can infer that one problem is related to another and thus what tools or techniques aplicable to solve the problems.
All in all, this book provide plenty of examples so one can understand how to employ the tools and techniques outlined.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2023
Write down your thoughts
Work backwards
Trial and error
Systematic trial and error
Trial and error with equivalence classes
Work backwards
Trial and error
Systematic trial and error
Trial and error with equivalence classes
February 17, 2013
I've been working on this off and on for a couple of years. It's a combination of artificial intelligence (AI) approaches with general problem analysis and solving methods.
It isn't a quick read - requires time and commitment to work through the problems in each section, but it's worth it. This is also probably best for someone who has been working on many kinds of challenging tasks, especially in computer science or mathematics, since a novice likely fail to appreciate the need for the various techniques provided.
This is very pre-internet, but is not too dated. It doesn't include "look for others' solutions on-line" as an option for learning.
It isn't a quick read - requires time and commitment to work through the problems in each section, but it's worth it. This is also probably best for someone who has been working on many kinds of challenging tasks, especially in computer science or mathematics, since a novice likely fail to appreciate the need for the various techniques provided.
This is very pre-internet, but is not too dated. It doesn't include "look for others' solutions on-line" as an option for learning.
March 16, 2013
math/psychology mixture.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews