Problem Solving Simulation

Problem Solving Simulation

How did you interpret the problem?   The first step in problem solving is to interpret what the problem is asking me to solve. I was able to interpret by first having a visual representation. I imagined myself as the man in the problem there on the riverbank with my animals. This helped me to identify with the problem and it helped me to imagine what I was trying to accomplish; to get the three animals to the other side of the river one at a time without fighting. After identifying the problem and envisioning the problem scenario, I was able to say with confidence that I understood the problem.

What strategy did you use and how did you evaluate your progress? Once I have interpreted the problem, the next steps are to select a solution strategy and evaluate progress toward my goal. The first solution strategy I used was trial and error. After a few attempts I began to get frustrated. Then I decided to turn to heuristics. This helped me to break the problem into subgoals; temporarily setting aside the main goal of getting all the animals to the other side of the river. Creating subgoals allowed me to focus on one animal at a time and then, in time, I was able to reach my ultimate goal and get all of the animals to the other side. I did not really evaluate my progress until I reached my goal. Until I had done that, I was unsure if I was on the right track to solving the problem. At one point I thought that maybe there was no way to solve the problem and almost gave up. The solution I came up with was to bring the cat to the other side and go back and get the dog. I brought the dog over, dropped him off, and picked the cat back up and brought the cat back to the other side. I then dropped the cat off, picked up the mouse and brought the mouse over to the other side. Then I went back for the cat.

Did you encounter any obstacles while solving the problem? Yes. As mentioned before, I began to get very frustrated with the problem and with...