Final answer:
Operators in familiar problems are often selected based on heuristics or algorithmic procedures; heuristics enable quick, efficient solutions while algorithms provide structured, step-by-step instructions.
Step-by-step explanation:
How operators are selected in problems that you are very familiar with can often depend on the problem-solving strategy you employ, which might vary from trial and error, insight, algorithmic procedures, to mental representations.
When faced with familiar problems, people may use heuristics, which are mental shortcuts that offer efficient but sometimes not completely accurate solutions, as highlighted by Kahneman in 2013. For problems within domains such as mathematics, engineers might utilize an algorithm, a problem-solving strategy characterized by a specific set of instructions, especially when the solution path is clear and structured.
In contrast, cognition, analytical intelligence, and creativity play a vital role when the solution is less apparent, leading to insights that help solve the problem. Heuristics come into play when problems require quick judgments; for instance, an availability heuristic relies on the most readily available information to make decisions.
When problems are complex and less familiar, more deliberate, and analytically intensive methods, such as using an algorithm, are necessary to find a solution.