The basic methods of solving problems and the problems that may occur while solving a problem.

1. Problem Solving Basics

2. Problem Solving
• Problem solving consists of using generic
or ad hoc methods, in an orderly manner, for
finding solutions to problems.

3. Characteristics of Difficult Problems
• Intransparency (lack of clarity of the situation)
• Polytely (multiple goals)
• Complexity (large numbers of items,
interrelations and decisions)
• Connectivity (hierarchy relation,
communication relation, allocation relation)
• Heterogeneity
• Dynamics (time considerations)

4. Problem Solving Strategies
• Abstraction: solving the problem in a model of
the system before applying it to the real system
• Analogy: using a solution that solves an
analogous problem
• Brainstorming: suggesting a large number of
solutions or ideas and combining and developing
them until an optimum solution is found
• Divide and conquer: breaking down a large,
complex problem into smaller, solvable problems

5. Problem Solving Strategies
• Hypothesis testing: assuming a possible
explanation to the problem and trying to
prove (or, in some contexts, disprove) the
assumption
• Means-ends analysis: choosing an action at
each step to move closer to the goal.
• Proof: try to prove that the problem cannot be
solved. The point where the proof fails will be
the starting point for solving it

6. Problem Solving Strategies
• Reduction: transforming the problem into
another problem for which solutions exist
• Research: employing existing ideas or
adapting existing solutions to similar problems
• Root cause analysis: identifying the cause of a
problem
• Trial-and-error: testing possible solutions until
the right one is found

7. Common barriers to problem solving
• Confirmation biased
- Confirmation bias is a tendency for people to
favor information that confirms their
preconceptions or hypotheses regardless of
whether the information is true.
• Mental set
- mental set describes one's inclination to
attempt to solve problems in such a way that
has proved successful in previous experiences.

8. Common barriers to problem solving
• Unnecessary constraints
-This occurs when the subject, trying to solve the
problem subconsciously, places boundaries on the
task at hand, which in turn forces him or her to
strain to be more innovative in their thinking.
• Irrelevant information
- Irrelevant information is information presented
within a problem that is unrelated or unimportant
to the specific problem. Within the specific context
of the problem, irrelevant information would serve
no purpose in helping solve that particular problem.

9. Problem Solving in Computer
Programming
• Different methods –
i) Flowchart
ii) Psedocode
iii) Algorithm

10. Flowchart
• Flowcharting is a graphical way of depicting a
problem in terms of its inputs, outputs, and
processes.

11. Example: finding the volume of a 3D
object

12. Pseducode
• Pseudocode involves writing down all of the
major steps you will use in the program as
depicted in your flowchart.

13. • For the previous example in flowchart, the
pseducode would be –

14. Another Example

15. • Pseducode-

16. Algorithm
• In computer science, an algorithm is a step-
by-step procedure for calculations.
• Algorithms are used for calculation, data
processing, and automated reasoning.

17. • Representations of algorithms can be classed
into three accepted levels:
1. High-level description
2. Implementation description
3. Formal description

18. Ex.- Find the largest number in a list of
numbers of random order.
• High-level description:
• If there are no numbers in the set then there is no
highest number.
• Assume the first number in the set is the largest
number in the set.
• For each remaining number in the set: if this number is
larger than the current largest number, consider this
number to be the largest number in the set.
• When there are no numbers left in the set to iterate
over, consider the current largest number to be the
largest number of the set.

19. Thank you