Question 1

The process of transforming one situation into another in order to meet a goal is called:

Accepted Answer

Problem-solving is the process of transforming one situation into another in order to meet a goal.

Question 2

To move from the initial state to a goal requires the use of:

Accepted Answer

Operators are the actions or steps taken to move from an initial state to a goal state in problem-solving.

Question 3

What MUST be known to consider a problem well defined?

Accepted Answer

A well-defined problem requires knowing the initial state, the goal state, and the operators to transition between states.

Question 4

In order for me to solve my homework, I have to work out a word problem. I have to determine how much fence the farmer will need to surround a particular field and I am given the dimensions. I have a(an):

Accepted Answer

The answer of In order for me to solve my...

Question 5

In order to for me to save enough money for a very nice vacation, I have considered how much I have in my bank account and have devised a plan for saving much more money each week. I figure that if I stick to my plan for the next two years, I'll have enough money to go on that vacation. I have a(an):

Accepted Answer

The problem is well-defined because it has a clear goal (saving enough money for a vacation), a specific plan (saving more money each week), and a defined timeframe (two years).

Question 6

What must be lacking in order for a problem to be considered ill-defined?

Accepted Answer

An ill-defined problem lacks a clearly defined goal state and/or the operators needed to reach the goal.

Question 7

As a teacher, I am always trying to find a way of getting my students to learn more. This problem is:

Accepted Answer

An ill-defined problem is one that does not have a clear or precise definition. In this case, the teacher's problem of finding a way to get their students to learn more is ill-defined because there is no clear or precise definition of what "learning more" means.

Question 8

Problems can be defined or categorized as:

Accepted Answer

Problems are categorized as well-defined, which have clear goals and solutions, and ill-defined, which lack clear goals and solutions.

Question 9

In problem solving, sub-goals are defined as:

Accepted Answer

Sub-goals are smaller, intermediate objectives that help in systematically progressing towards the main goal. They break down the broader goal into manageable parts.

Question 10

As can easily be imagined, solving a problem requires a number of steps or processes. Which one of the following is NOT a step in problem solving?

Accepted Answer

Accomplishing all subgoals is not a step in problem solving.

Question 11

Rather than trying every single operator to solve a problem, humans have been found to make use of:

Accepted Answer

Humans typically use problem-solving strategies, which are systematic approaches or methods, to efficiently solve problems rather than trying every possible operator.

Question 12

Systematic procedures that inevitably produce a solution to a problem are called:

Accepted Answer

Algorithms are systematic procedures that inevitably produce a solution to a problem.

Question 13

I have written a computer program to play chess. The program examines every possible play given the current arrangement of pieces on the board. My program solves problems by using :

Accepted Answer

The program uses algorithms to systematically evaluate every possible move based on the current board state.

Question 14

Algorithms are best for problems that:

Accepted Answer

Algorithms are designed to solve problems that have a clear solution, providing a step-by-step procedure to reach that solution.

Question 15

Imagining the steps involved in solving a problem mentally before actually undertaking them is known as

Accepted Answer

Mental simulations involve visualizing the steps of a process or problem-solving task in one's mind before actually performing them.

Question 16

For mental simulations to be most beneficial, the individual should be sure to

Accepted Answer

Visualizing in detail the steps involved in achieving a success is the most beneficial for mental simulations.

Question 17

I am trying to figure out the best way to end a relationship. I imagine many different ways of starting the topic and I think of everything that I want to say. In short, I imagine the entire conversation. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Mental simulation involves imagining the steps and outcomes of a situation, which is what is being described in the scenario.

Question 18

There are numerous problem-solving strategies. Which is NOT one of them?

Accepted Answer

Functional fixedness is a cognitive bias that limits a person to using an object only in the way it is traditionally used, rather than a problem-solving strategy.

Question 19

In terms of performance, an experiment by Taylor et al. (1998) revealed that mental simulation had which one of the following effects?

Accepted Answer

The experiment by Taylor et al. (1998) found that mentally simulating the process of achieving a high score led to better performance compared to visualizing nothing or just imagining receiving a high score.

Question 20

The tendency for people to ignore other possible functions of an object when they have a specific function in mind is called:

Accepted Answer

Functional fixedness is the cognitive bias that limits a person to using an object only in the way it is traditionally used, ignoring other potential uses.

Quiz 7: Thought and Language