Final answer:
To solve a problem, symptoms are identified and mapped to underlying problems, with unknowns and knowns determined. Decision criteria are used to evaluate solutions. Examples include checking if a computer system's performance has improved following interventions like upgrading memory or removing malware.
Step-by-step explanation:
To effectively solve a problem, one must first identify the symptoms and then determine the underlying problems causing those symptoms. For instance, let's say we are dealing with an issue where a computer system is running slowly, frequently crashing, having difficulty connecting to the internet, and overheating. These are the symptoms. After thorough investigation, we might trace these symptoms back to three main problems: insufficient memory (RAM), malware infection, and outdated hardware.
A key step is to identify the unknowns and the knowns. For the given example, unknowns could be the exact cause of the overheating or the type of malware, while the knowns might include the age of the hardware and the current RAM capacity.
To evaluate whether each problem has been solved, we can apply decision criteria such as:
- Does the system run efficiently without crashes after a memory upgrade?
- Is the system free of malware after running an antivirus scan and does it maintain connectivity?
- Does replacing outdated components reduce overheating and improve performance?
Answering these questions and examining the effects post-solution will confirm if the problems have been addressed. Using strategies to assess the reasonableness of the solutions can help determine if the setup of the solution was correct.