Emission

Problem Solving Simulation

BEH/225

May 8, 2011

LaDonna Landry

Pamela Applewhite

How did you interpret the problem?

When I first started trying to solve trying to interpret the problem I got frustrated. I thought I was losing my mind which was messing up my concentration. I managed to calm down and get back to my initial goal which was to move the animals one by one with the man to the other side safely. I looked at what type of problems I may have in doing so which was basically that the cat couldn’t be left alone with the other two. The other problem is that even though two could be transported at one time the man had to be one of the two on each trip. With the man being one of the passengers on the raft that meant two animals was left sitting alone that couldn’t get along with each other.

What strategy did you use and how did you evaluate your progress?

The first strategy of course was trial and error which then after I stopped over thinking the problem lead to success in solving the problem. I took the cat across first seeing that it is the only animal that couldn’t be left alone with the other two. I then returned and picked up the mouse and took it across to the other side. I put the cat back on the raft and took it back across dropped it off and picked up the dog. I took the dog across to the other side and dropped it off. I then went back across and picked up the cat and brought it over with the dog and mouse. Successfully completed.

Did you encounter any obstacles while solving the problem?

I encountered many obstacles while trying to solve the problem. First losing concentration from getting frustrated thinking it was impossible. Secondly any animal left with the cat would get in a bad fight. I also thought I might be able to trick the computer and put two animals on the raft but that didn’t work. I over thought the process so much that I didn’t realize at first that after dropping one animal off to the other side that I...