Question 1

What is an algorithm?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is an algorithm?
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Question 2

Salvador hates to work through the problems on his calculus assignments step by step, and he often tries shortcuts that might save him some time. What does Salvador prefer to use?

Accepted Answer

Salvador's preference for shortcuts suggests that he is utilizing heuristics, which are mental shortcuts or rules of thumb that allow people to solve problems quickly and efficiently.

Question 3

When is working backward a good strategy to follow?

Accepted Answer

Working backward is effective when you start with many options and progressively narrow down to fewer options towards the end, making it easier to trace back from a known outcome or goal.

Question 4

Alex is dealing with a new problem that he has never encountered. He begins to consider all of the various methods that he has used to solve problems in the past. What is Alex thinking about, according to Newell and Simon?

Accepted Answer

Alex is considering all of the possible actions and paths that he can take to solve his new problem, which relates to the problem space. The mental set refers to the tendency to approach a problem in a certain way that has worked in the past, which is not mentioned in the scenario. Heuristics and algorithms are problem-solving strategies, but there is no indication that Alex is specifically considering either one.

Question 5

Riley's algebra teacher is amazed at the creativity Riley shows in solving homework problems. He seldom uses the same method on two consecutive problems, even when the problems are very similar in content and structure. Although Riley makes lots of mistakes in algebra, what is he unlikely to experience?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Riley's algebra teacher is amazed at the...

Question 6

In attempting to solve the "nine dot problem" many individuals will not attempt to draw a line outside the imaginary boundary surrounding the nine dots. This is not a rule associated with the problem, but is imposed by the problem solver. What is this an example of?

Accepted Answer

This is an example of unnecessary constraints, where individuals impose limitations on themselves that are not actually part of the problem's rules.

Question 7

Which of the following statements is least accurate?

Accepted Answer

Not all clearly defined problems have known algorithms, especially if they are undecidable or computationally infeasible.

Question 8

Which of the following statements concerning age and functional fixedness is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

Young children are less likely to show evidence of functional fixedness because they are more open to seeing multiple uses for objects, whereas older children and adults tend to be more fixed in their thinking about object functions.

Question 9

Kareem is working on a practical problem with his 16-year-old son, Josh, and his 8-year-old daughter, Lisa. They don't have the right tools for the job, and they need to come up with a creative solution that uses the items they have available. Based on research findings into the prevalence of functional fixedness, what should you predict?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that young children, like Lisa, are less prone to functional fixedness than adults, so she is more likely to come up with a creative solution using the items available.

Question 10

Vivian has forgotten the last digit of her locker combination. She carefully tries every number in order until she finds the one that works. What is Vivian using in this case?

Accepted Answer

Vivian is using an algorithm, which is a step-by-step procedure that guarantees a correct solution to a problem. In this case, she is trying every number in order until she finds the one that works, which is a systematic approach to solving the problem. Functional fixedness refers to a tendency to use objects or concepts only in their usual or customary way, framing refers to the way a problem is presented or perceived, and a heuristic is a mental shortcut or rule of thumb that is not guaranteed to lead to a correct solution.

Question 11

Claudia wants to send a fragile vase to her parents for their anniversary, but she can't find any appropriate packing material in her house. She decides to pop some popcorn and use that to pack around the vase. What has Claudia done in this case?

Accepted Answer

Claudia has overcome functional fixedness by using popcorn, a non-traditional packing material, to solve her problem. She has thought outside the box and used an item that is typically thought of for snacking to protect her fragile vase.

Question 12

Lance is trying to solve a complex anagram puzzle. He systematically tries every potential solution by testing each possible combination of the letters provided. What is Lance doing in this case?

Accepted Answer

Lance is using an algorithm to solve the anagram, as he is systematically trying every possible combination of letters in order to find the correct solution. An algorithm is a step-by-step set of instructions for solving a problem, and this approach is likely to be the most effective and efficient way to solve the anagram.

Question 13

You have a pair of pliers and a bag of nuts in the shell. You are lamenting the fact that you can't shell the nuts because you do not have a nutcracker. Which of the following problems is demonstrated by your inability to perceive the pliers as a makeshift nutcracker?

Accepted Answer

Functional fixedness refers to the inability to see an object as useful for a different function than its intended function. In this scenario, the individual is fixated on the pliers as a tool for gripping and manipulating objects, rather than considering the possibility of using them as a nutcracker.

Question 14

When Alaina is working on her bicycle, she brings her entire tool kit out on the driveway and starts pulling wrenches from the tool kit at random, trying them until she finds one that fits. What type of approach is Alaina using?

Accepted Answer

Alaina is using the trial and error approach, which involves trying different solutions until the correct one is found. This is a common problem-solving strategy, but it may not always be the most efficient or effective method.

Question 15

You attempt possible solutions to a problem, then discard the ones that don't work until you find one that does. What is this method of problem solving called?

Accepted Answer

The method of attempting possible solutions and discarding unsuccessful ones until the correct solution is found is called trial and error. Working backward involves starting with the solution and working backward to find the steps needed to reach it. Algorithmic problem solving involves following a specific set of instructions or rules to arrive at the solution. Heuristic problem solving involves using general principles or educated guesses to come up with a solution.

Question 16

What are you demonstrating if you tend to persist in using the same problem-solving strategy time after time?

Accepted Answer

Persistently using the same problem-solving strategy even when it is not effective indicates a mental set, which is a cognitive tendency to approach situations in a particular way. This can hinder creativity and impede finding alternative solutions.

Question 17

Esmeralda wants to use her roommate's computer to work on her term paper but the roommate has password protected the computer. Rather than starting at "a" and systematically testing every possible word in the English language, Esmeralda makes some educated guesses about the password, based on what she knows about her roommate. What is Esmeralda using in this case?

Accepted Answer

Esmeralda is using a heuristic, which is a mental shortcut or rule of thumb that allows for quicker decision-making. She is using her knowledge about her roommate to make an educated guess about the password instead of testing every possible option.

Question 18

Eva just upgraded her software package. However, even though the updated version contains a number of more efficient methods for working with files, Eva continues to work with files the way she did before the upgrade. What is Eva showing evidence of in this case?

Accepted Answer

Eva is showing evidence of a mental set, as she is continuing to use the same old methods for working with files despite the availability of more efficient methods in the upgraded software. This suggests that she is stuck in a particular way of thinking or problem-solving and is unable to adapt to change.

Question 19

You are a CEO for a large company and you are interested in making some changes to the way that the company runs. You would like to see some creativity in administrative processes, rather than simply continuing the way things have always been done. Which of the following should you do?

Accepted Answer

Hiring new managers from outside the company can bring fresh perspectives and ideas, reducing the risk of mental set, which is the tendency to approach problems in the same way as in the past.

Question 20

When Quentin sprained his ankle in a backyard softball game, his girlfriend grabbed a bag of frozen corn from the freezer to wrap around his ankle until they got him to the local clinic. What did Quentin's girlfriend do in this case?

Accepted Answer

Quentin's girlfriend was able to overcome functional fixedness by using a bag of frozen corn, which is not typically thought of as a medical supply for sprained ankles. This shows that she was able to think creatively and outside of the box in order to provide aid for Quentin's injury.

Quiz 8: A: Language and Thought