- #1
Heisenberg7
- 73
- 13
Hello,
I was lying in bed the other day and an idea came to my mind. How does one actually solve a problem? Now, I know this question is impossible to answer, but I would like to know your strategies when it comes to solving problems.
I would like to make an analogy to this. Let's say that you are a general of an army and your job is to conquer a country. How would you do it? How would an experienced general approach this?
Now, I know that this is probably a funny analogy because none of us are army generals, but the point stands nonetheless. The general would most definitely rely on his experience. This is the same tactic grandmasters use in chess. Magnus Carlsen himself said that most of the time he knows what to play next. He basically doesn't have to think about it. But, what happens when he does? So let's say we give him a board and we tell him to find the best move. How would he do it? I mean sure, his experience would play a huge role. But, what happens when he gets stuck? What happens when he actually has to think about it?
An army general can't just move troops on the field without thinking. He needs a plan that is going to lead him to the victory. At this point, I can see that I am going in a circle, so let's get to the punchline. What problem solving strategies would he use? In other words, what problem solving strategies would a mathematician use?
Mathematicians aren't born, they have to train. But, do the gifted mathematicians have an unfair advantage over the rest of us? Over this summer break, I've probably done more than 500 problems in physics. I'm not sure how much they helped. But they had to have done something, right?
I had this idea in my mind for a while so I'm hoping someone could give me a relaxation. Just to simply get it off my mind.
Thanks in advance
I was lying in bed the other day and an idea came to my mind. How does one actually solve a problem? Now, I know this question is impossible to answer, but I would like to know your strategies when it comes to solving problems.
I would like to make an analogy to this. Let's say that you are a general of an army and your job is to conquer a country. How would you do it? How would an experienced general approach this?
Now, I know that this is probably a funny analogy because none of us are army generals, but the point stands nonetheless. The general would most definitely rely on his experience. This is the same tactic grandmasters use in chess. Magnus Carlsen himself said that most of the time he knows what to play next. He basically doesn't have to think about it. But, what happens when he does? So let's say we give him a board and we tell him to find the best move. How would he do it? I mean sure, his experience would play a huge role. But, what happens when he gets stuck? What happens when he actually has to think about it?
An army general can't just move troops on the field without thinking. He needs a plan that is going to lead him to the victory. At this point, I can see that I am going in a circle, so let's get to the punchline. What problem solving strategies would he use? In other words, what problem solving strategies would a mathematician use?
Mathematicians aren't born, they have to train. But, do the gifted mathematicians have an unfair advantage over the rest of us? Over this summer break, I've probably done more than 500 problems in physics. I'm not sure how much they helped. But they had to have done something, right?
I had this idea in my mind for a while so I'm hoping someone could give me a relaxation. Just to simply get it off my mind.
Thanks in advance
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