Question 1

If you were asked to rearrange the letters EDTIMRM in order to produce an English word (MIDTERM), what sort of problem are you trying to solve?

Accepted Answer

Rearranging the letters in order to produce a word involves solving an arrangement problem.

Question 2

Which of the following is defined as a methodical, step-by-step procedure for trying all possible alternatives in searching for a solution to a problem?

Accepted Answer

An algorithm is a methodical, step-by-step procedure for trying all possible alternatives in searching for a solution to a problem. It is a systematic way of solving problems and can be applied in various fields such as mathematics, computer science, and engineering.

Question 3

Which class of problems is often solved with a burst of insight?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which class of problems is often solved...

Question 4

In which class of problems is it necessary to carry out a sequence of intermediate actions in order to solve the problem?

Accepted Answer

Transformation problems require a sequence of intermediate actions to solve the problem. These problems involve manipulating or changing the given information to arrive at the solution. Examples include geometry problems that require using formulas to find angles or areas, or word problems that involve multiple steps to solve. In contrast, arrangement problems involve arranging a set of objects in a specific order or pattern, inducing structure problems involve identifying patterns or relationships in data, and probability problems involve calculating the likelihood of certain events occurring.

Question 5

Because one of the main goals of playing the game Scrabble is to use a series of randomly selected letters to form words, Scrabble can best be described as a game that involves which type of problem?

Accepted Answer

Scrabble involves arranging letters in a specific order to form words, making it a game that involves arrangement problems.

Question 6

Which class of problems (as described by Greeno) involves discovering the relations among the parts of the problem?

Accepted Answer

The class of problems that involves discovering the relations among the parts of the problem is inducing structure. The other options (transformation, arrangement, and probability) do not necessarily involve discovering relations among parts of a problem.

Question 7

When is the trial-and-error approach to problem solving most effective?

Accepted Answer

The answer of When is the trial-and-error approach to problem...

Question 8

Which barrier to effective problem solving is illustrated by the series of water-jug problems described in your text?

Accepted Answer

The barrier to effective problem-solving illustrated in the water-jug problems is mental set. This is because individuals tend to use the same problem-solving strategy even when it may not be the most effective or efficient solution for the current problem at hand. In the water-jug problems, individuals may continue to use the same strategy of filling and pouring jugs even though there may be alternative methods that would yield a solution faster or with less effort.

Question 9

Darcy needs to move a couch up a set of stairs that turns a corner near the top. As he is thinking about the best way to go about this, he thinks about the position that the couch needs to be in when it turns the corner. That piece of information then anchors his decision about how to orient the couch at the bottom of the stairs. Which of the following does this example illustrate?

Accepted Answer

Darcy is using the working backward strategy by considering the final position of the couch at the corner to determine how to start moving it from the bottom of the stairs.

Question 10

What is the term used to describe the tendency to think of a hammer as only a tool to hammer nails and not as a weapon, a lever, or a weight to prop open a door?

Accepted Answer

Functional fixedness is the cognitive bias that limits a person to think of an object only in terms of its common use, and not beyond that. It is the tendency to focus on an object's typical function and ignore its other potential functions or the possibility of using it in different ways. Other options are incorrect because unnecessary constraints refer to limitations imposed by an individual, irrelevant information means extraneous data that is not relevant, and a mental set refers to using the same approach to solve a problem that has worked in the past, even if it is not the most efficient or effective.

Question 11

When Matthew is taking a multiple choice exam, he uses the rule 'When in doubt, pick C'. Which of the following is illustrated by this example?

Accepted Answer

Matthew's rule of picking C when in doubt is a heuristic, a mental shortcut or rule-of-thumb that helps him make a quick decision without much conscious thought or analysis.

Question 12

Which of the following is a shortcut, or guiding principle, used in solving problems or making decisions?

Accepted Answer

Heuristics are shortcuts used in problem-solving or decision-making that help individuals to quickly find a satisfactory solution. Heuristics are not always accurate, but they are efficient and usually work well in real-life situations. Examples of heuristics include the availability heuristic and the anchoring and adjustment heuristic. The other options (A, B, D) are not heuristics but problem-solving techniques or strategies. A trial is a way of testing a hypothesis or idea, an analogy is a comparison between two things to draw similarities or help explain something, and an algorithm is a well-defined set of instructions for solving a problem or completing a task.

Question 13

Your Dad has a problem; what to get your Mom for her birthday. He mentally reviews her reaction to presents he has given her in the past (an iron, a toaster, an ice cream maker). If he decides to get her a cappuccino machine because she seemed to like a "luxury" appliance like the ice cream maker more than the "routine" or necessary appliances like the toaster, your Dad would be making use of which approach to problem solving?

Accepted Answer

By reviewing his past gifts, Dad is using analogical thinking to try to find a gift that will be well-received. He is looking for similarities between past gifts and trying to find a common theme or preference that he can use to guide his choice of gift.

Question 14

What are people doing if a mental set interferes with problem solving?

Accepted Answer

A mental set involves relying on familiar strategies that have worked previously, which can hinder finding new solutions.

Question 15

People often find it difficult to solve a problem by using a familiar object in a novel way. What is this called?

Accepted Answer

Functional fixedness refers to the cognitive bias of seeing objects only in their traditional and customary uses, making it difficult to see them in new or unconventional ways. This can hinder problem-solving abilities and creativity.

Question 16

Which type of strategy is especially useful when a problem has a well-specified end point?

Accepted Answer

Working backward is especially useful when a problem has a well-specified end point, because it involves starting from the desired outcome and reasoning backwards to determine the steps needed to reach it. This strategy is particularly effective for problems that involve achieving a specific goal, such as finding a solution to a puzzle or planning a route to a destination. Forming subgoals can be helpful for breaking down a larger problem into manageable parts, but it may not be the most efficient approach for problems with a clear end point. Changing the representation of the problem and using algorithms may also be useful in certain contexts, but they are not necessarily the most effective strategies for problems with a well-defined endpoint.

Question 17

Which task is involved in analogy problems such as "Mickey Mouse is to Minnie Mouse as Donald Duck is to ____"?

Accepted Answer

Analogy problems require inducing structure, as they involve identifying the relationship between pairs and applying that relationship to find the missing element.

Question 18

Ashley has just had her first-ever flat tire. She realizes that she needs to find where the spare tire and the jack and other tools are stored in the car, remove the flat tire, and install the spare tire. Which heuristic is Ashley using to approach the problem?

Accepted Answer

Ashley is breaking down the problem into smaller subgoals - finding where the spare tire and tools are stored, removing the flat tire, and installing the spare tire. This is a strategy of forming subgoals to approach the problem.

Question 19

People often assume that it is necessary to use all the numerical information provided in a problem in order to solve the problem. In reality, numerical information sometimes makes it more difficult to solve a problem. Why?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes, numerical information provided in a problem may be superfluous or irrelevant. Focusing on irrelevant information may put unnecessary constraints on the problem solver and may hinder finding a solution.

Question 20

Johanna was placed in charge of planning her class's spring formal. If she thought she should hire the same band that played at last year's formal because of how much everyone enjoyed the band, which barrier to effective problem solving might Johanna be encountering?

Accepted Answer

Johanna may be experiencing a mental set, or a tendency to approach a problem in a particular way based on past experiences or preconceived notions. She may be stuck on the idea that the same band should be hired again because of its success in the past, rather than considering other options that could potentially make the event even better.

Quiz 8: B: Language and Thought

If you were asked to rearrange the letters EDTIMRM in order to produce an English word (MIDTERM) , what sort of problem are you trying to solve?