The 1, 2, 3... and 4 of Problem Solving

Mathematical expressions are never misunderstood. When a person states 6 + 6, the meaning of that statement will be the same wherever you go. That is, unlike modern languages, math has a precise meaning for every construction. Hence, when constructing a computer algorithm, we need to make sure that our thoughts are conveyed properly by machines. That is where Mathematical Expressions come in.

In other words, we use math as the medium through which we are going to solve problems. Once the problem is properly conveyed in mathematical form, we can attempt to solve it using computer applications.

Polya and the 4 Steps to Solving Problems
Decades ago, G. Polya came with several steps on how to solve problems. While some people will find this obvious or redundant, it is important to remember that true scientists apply a structured, consisten methodology in everything they do. This includes problem solving.

Quickly stated, Polya suggests that we:

1. Understand the problem
2. Devise a plan
3. Carry out the plan
4. Look back

Taken from G. Polya, "How to Solve It", 2nd ed., Princeton University Press, 1957, ISBN 0-691-08097-6.

Example:
A study conducted by Toronto's City Council has shown that there is a positive correlation between the quality of street performers in the city and the amount of tourists coming to the city. The Mayor believes that most street performers are talentless, thus explaining the decline in tourism for the last decade. He wants you to come up with a way to improve the quality of street performers in an economical way. As a scientifically driven person, you apply Polya's steps on "How to Solve It".

Step 1: Understand the problem
What do we know about street performers? Are all street performers talentless? How do we determine if a street performer is good or not? By asking ourselves as many questions about and surrounding the problem, we are able to fully get a grasp of what needs to be done. Visualizing the problem also helps understanding it.

S is the universe of street performers in Toronto.
G is the set that contains good street performers.
A is the set that contains active street performers.

So we want the intersection between G and A to increase in size; we probably want to aim for A to become a subset of G.

Step 2: Devise a plan
Has there ever been a similar problem that has been solved? If that were the case, we could apply that solution to this problem. Since this is a unique problem, we need to come up with a unique solution. To make A a subset of G, we would need to either: a) encourage more good street performers to become active while deterring the rest from performing, or b) make the rest become good.

The most economical way would be a) since it trusts on good performers not needing additional training. Hence, the plan will consist of forcing street performers to apply for permits. When applying, they need to show their skills. A panel of judges will decide whether they are worthy of a permit or not.

Step 3: Carry out the plan
Did the plan solve the problem? Apparently, the plan was a limited success. Some people started renting their permits, creating a situation where some permit owners would have other performers working for them. While this was not the case of the majority, it still needs to be addressed.

Step 4: Look back
We need to review every step in the plan. Can any improvement be done to the steps in order to avoid people renting their permits? If modifying previous steps doesn't solve the problem, perhaps we could introduce extra steps to ensure the success of the plan.