Solving problems is one of the most basic human capabilities.
Problems come in many different types, but they have some basic characteristics in common.
A number of problem solving methods have been studied, and learning how to use them can be of enormous practical significance as you encounter the wide variety of problems that exist. One of the most basic processes is to turn a hard problem into an easier problem by using information to re-cast the form of the problem and to search for solutions. Anderson, Ch. 8. We all solve problems every day. To see that different methods have their own strengths and weaknesses, we will solve a problem using several distinct approaches.