How to solve any problem?

[chrisphd]

What is a procedure/method to solve any problem (eg. mathematical, philosophical ...) one may come across?

[Kuldeep]

The first step would be to understand the problem. Then thinking all the logical possible solutions. Picking up the best one and finally satisfying ownself with the selected answer.

[chrisphd]

How may one deal with a problem offering thousands, if not infinite possible solutions to select from, where it would be inappropriate to search through each solution one by one?

[Kuldeep]

Why do you not specifically put the problem ? In OP you said any problem. This meant a general problem. that is why a general answerr was provided.

Now, if you have some specific problem ! Specific answer would be suggested.

Hypothetically, if a problem has infinite solutions. I feel then the problem is not a problem. I feel problem must be by itself a solution !!!

[chrisphd]

I do not specifically "put" the problem, as the question is seeking the procedure/method to solve any problem in general.

Your initial solution fails to answer the question, in that your solution can not be generalised to those problems which have many possible solutions, as your procedure involves thinking about "all the logical possible solutions to select from" then making a selection. When the selection space is large, this task becomes tedious. When the selection space is near infinite, the task becomes almost impossible using this method.

Hypothetically, if a problem has infinite solutions. I feel then the problem is not a problem. I feel problem must be by itself a solution !!!

I don't think i quite follow this quote, as both your initial procedure, and my initial response to that procedure were refering to "possible solutions to select from" rather than solutions themselves. Many problems may have infinite "possible solutions" to select from after further investigation. An example of such is where on the tennis court should a tennis player with 100% perfect accuracy hit the ball in a game of tenns in order to have the best chance of winning?

[Kuldeep]

Quote by: chrisphd where on the tennis court should a tennis player with 100% perfect accuracy hit the ball in a game of tenns in order to have the best chance of winning?

Ah, what a problem posed !!!

I would change your problem and make it still tuff.

where on the tennis court should a tennis PLAYER STAND and with 100% perfect accuracy hit the ball in a game of tenns in order to have the best chance of winning?

Well, apply my suggested first step of the 4 step procedure.

Understand the problem !!!

Problem is, the match should be won! For that where the player should stand inside the court? Winning of match is not only dependant on the position of the player he would stand. There are countless variables. I would not count all and waste my time . But, I can tell you the most important for winning the match is that player should be able to return the ball from any point of his court and at the sametime make it fall inside the opponents court at a place where opponent is not likely to reach in time. So the real solution is to study all the variables, which are there for returning the ball as desired to get every point won and hence the game. Using his logic and understanding he can fix and vary his position and also force of hitting suiting to ultimate purpose of winning the game, point by point, as per the changing tactics of opponent.

Quote by: chrisphd What is a procedure/method to solve any problem (eg. mathematical, philosophical ...) one may come across?

You first have to determine if the problem is soluble. Many are not.

For example, it's unlikely that there is one general procedure/method to solve any problem.

Regards
S.

[chrisphd]

I'm open to your suggestion sdbest, that there may infact be no solution to my posed question. A task now would be to logically prove whether there is or not.

Quote by: chrisphd I'm open to your suggestion sdbest, that there may infact be no solution to my posed question. A task now would be to logically prove whether there is or not.

To prove your that there is no solution to your problem, only one example of an insoluble problem needs to be posed. If even one problem is insoluble, it means that there is no way to determine if there is one general way of solving all problems.

An insoluble problem is determining the size of the universe. The reason is that the speed of light--among other constraints--puts a finite limit on our observations. The observational limits imposed by the speed of light mean that we can never "prove" that any general method for solving a problem will apply to those areas we cannot observe.

Another area of insoluble problems includes complex problems such as weather forecasting. We cannot know today what the weather will be like in Singapore on March 9, 2009. Consequently, any general method of problem solving cannot be tested or proved.

What you can do is work on a smaller scale and likely give some general concepts that might help solve all problems. Clearly defining the problem, for example. But, it's not clear if a complex problem with unknown and unknowable variables--for example, how any given individual will respond to an ad campaign--will respond to the same general theory of problem solving as an arithmetic problem that has a has a few, accurately measurable variables

Regards
S.

[Zhavric]

Clearly, the best way is to invent some entity which solves the problem completely and is absolutely undetectable. Hold to faith when it's demonstrated how stupid this belief is.

[5010]

Quote by: chrisphd What is a procedure/method to solve any problem (eg. mathematical, philosophical ...) one may come across?

Break the problem into parts. Identify assumptions, rules, facts and unknowns. See if the assumptions fit the facts. See if relationships between facts agrees with rules. See if the facts imply other facts in a path to the unknowns.

Or hire a consultant...

[Jack]

1) Break the problem down until you have two diametrically opposed solutions or options.
2) Flip a coin.

[SoylentGreen]

Do as you have done.. Hand the problem to someone else and then it is no longer your problem.

[Osborn F Enready]

Logic and deductive reasoning can solve all problems that can be solved.

Quote by: Osborn F Enready Logic and deductive reasoning can solve all problems that can be solved.

Using logic and deductive reasoning, can you prove your hypothesis? Also, using logic and deductive reasoning, can you determine if a problem is solvable or not? If so how? If not why not?

Regards
S.

[Technosoul]

We have a diversity of problems, from fixing a problem with your car to fixing a problem with the neighbors dog. From getting the right answer to a math problem to overcoming an addiciton.

Knowledge, understanding, logical deductions, and experimental research are all useful and are more or less the same method.

Or - kick it and see it will start working again.

Sometimes you will find the answer in how you frame the question.

I would ask for an answer from out of the blue, and then wait for the answer. Sometimes the answer will be to research with my computer to get some background data about the problem and sometimes the answer will surface as a knowing. Sometimes I draw a blank.

And so I asked the blue what is the one solution for all problems.
A method that cannot fail to work concerning all problems.

I got the answer back and it is.....

Death. Just die and "no more problems".

























f

[Kuldeep]

Quote by: Technosol Death. Just die and "no more problems".

No more problems as are appearing to relatives and friends remaining alive but, problems remain with the person, who dies. The most obvious problem is how to get lost body back, which he and others as well were considering him only, though ignorantly. Natural system contains reincarnation, which solves the problem of getting the body but, a new one since old one gets degenerated fast.

[Technosoul]

Reincarnation would be a problem if you got a bad Karma. So my answer is only for the non-Buddist people.

[chrisphd]

Most problems are fundamentally related to to survival. Death isn't the solution to problems, death is the consequence of not solving them.

[5010]

Or go with Edison's method. Tinker with a huge number of options until you get lucky.