Chapter 1:

General Problem-Solving Concepts

Week 1 Day 1

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Textbooks:

Main textbook: Secondary textbook:

Name of the book Name of the book

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Instructor Timetable

Note: Contact me at my office

time shown in the timetable

Note: My office hours shown

in color Green
Green

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The Week Agenda
Lecture One:
• Problem Solving in Everyday Life
• Six Steps of Problem Solving
• Types of Problems

Lecture Two:

• Problem Solving with Computers

• Difficulties with Problem Solving

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Grading Policy
Item Grades
Attendance and Participation 5
Quizzes 5
Class Work and Assignments 5
Home works 5
Projects 10
First Exam 20
Second Exam 20
Final Exam 30
Total 100

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Objectives

Describe the difference between heuristic and algorithmic solutions to problems.

List and describe the six problem-solving steps to solve a problem that has an
algorithmic solution.

Use the six problem-solving steps to solve a problem.

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Six Steps of Problem Solving
1. Identify the problem. :If you don’t know what the problem is, you cannot solve it.

2. Understand the problem : understanding the knowledge base of the person or machine for whom you are solving the problem.

3. Identify alternative ways to solve the problem.: complete as possible and Alternative solutions must be acceptable ones.

4. Select the best way to solve the problem from the list of alternative solutions.

5. List instructions that enable you to solve the problem using the selected solution.

6. Evaluate the solution : to evaluate or test a solution means to check its result to see if it is correct, and to see
if it satisfies the needs of the person(s) with the problem.

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Problem: What To Do This Evening?!!
• First Step : Identify the problem.
How do the individuals wish to spend the evening?

• Second Step : Understand the problem.

The knowledge base of the participants must be considered.

You probably would not select as a possible solution playing a
game of chess if the participants did not know how to play.

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Problem: What To Do This Evening?!!
• Third Step : Identify alternatives.
Be creative and List all the possible solutions
Watch television, Invite friends over, Play video games, Go to the movies…etc.

• Fourth Step : Select the best way to solve the problem.

Weed out alternatives that are not acceptable, such as those that cost too
much money or do not interest one of the individuals involved.

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Problem: What To Do This Evening?!!
• Fifth Step : Prepare a list of steps (instructions) that will result in a fun
evening.

• Sixth Step : Evaluate the solution

Are we having fun yet?

Note: See chapter1 page 5 for more

details.

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Types of Problems

1 Algorithmic solution
2 Heuristic solution

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Types of Problems
• Algorithm : is a procedure or formula for solving a problem, based
on conducting a sequence of specified actions

• Algorithmic Solutions : Solve a problem with a series of actions

(balancing a checkbook or baking a cake)

• heuristic solutions : (buy the best stock or whether to expand the company)

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Problem Solving with Computers
Solution

Result

Program

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Problem Solving with Computers
• Solution means the instructions listed during step 5 of problem
solving
• Results means the outcome or the completed computer-assisted
answer.
• Program means the set of instructions that make up the solution after
they have been coded into a particular computer language.

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Difficulties with Problem Solving
• Not taught
• Fear of Making a Decision
• Going through steps inadequately
• Not defining the Problem
• Eliminating good alternatives
• Not using logical sequencing
• Focusing on details too early

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Summary
• The six steps in problem solving lead to the best possible solution to a problem
• Algorithmic solutions are reached in a series of steps.
• Heuristic solutions are attained through trial and error.
• Algorithmic solutions are easier to define for computer use than heuristic ones.
• Several things can go wrong in the problem-solving process
• If the problem-solving process is incomplete, the solution will not produce the desired results.
• The steps in problem solving can be applied to problems in daily life as well as to problems put on
the computer
• Good problem-solving techniques enable you to look at a problem logically and unemotionally,
saving time and other resources.

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Homework #1
Note: Chapter#1, page#8 , question #3

• Name three current problems in your life that could be solved

through an algorithmic process. Explain why each of these problems
is algorithmic in nature. Then write the six problem-solving steps to
solve any of the problems you mentioned.

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 Thank you!
Coming Lecture
Beginning Problem-Solving Concepts
Chap. 2 Sec. 1 for the Computer

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