Beh225 Week 4 Assignment-Problem Solving Simulation

Assignment: Problem-Solving Simulation

How did you interpret the problem?

First I defined the objectives of the problem. The goal is to move the man, the cat, the dog, and the mouse safely across the river. The next step is to find and evaluate any restrictions/complications to reaching this goal. The restrictions found are the cat cannot be left alone with either of the other two animals, the dog or the mouse. Another restriction was only two beings could be transported at once. With the man on the raft each trip, that left only one animal being delivered across the river at a time and two animals sitting on one side of the river or another.

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

There is two strategies I employed to solve this problem. Trial and error is the first I used. Since there were only a few moves and choices I could make, I found this strategy not too overwhelming. The second strategy is information retrieval from past experience. I am a puzzler fan, so I have found I had performed similar problems as was presented.

Due to the limited choices of humans and animals, I used trial and error more strongly however. With only one animal being able to be transported at a time, and the knowledge that the cat was the only animal that could not be left alone, the cat was my first choice in taking across the river.

I evaluated my progress after each move across the river to assure that the cat was never left alone with either the dog or the mouse.

Did you encounter any obstacles while solving the problem?

I did feel confident when approaching the problem as I have done similar types of problems in the past, with more objects and restrictions. Having that comfort level I believe made this problem easier to solve for me. I am the type of person to seek word and strategy puzzles, so honestly, for this problem, I did not encounter any obstacles once I determined the goal and the restrictions in place for it....