Claude Shannon’s method for formulating and solving problems • Hacker News Board

Re: Claude Shannon’s method for formulating and solving problems

#21

Post by sah2ed » Mon, Aug 28, 2017, 9:25 PM UTC

contingencies wrote: post #9

rihegher wrote: post #2

Step 1: Simplify. Simplify. Simplify. Step 2: Fill your 'mental matrix' with solutions to similar problems. Step 3: Approach the problem from many different angles. Step 4: Break a big problem down into small pieces. Step 5: Solve the problem 'backwards.' Step 6: If you've solved the problem, extend that solution out as far as it will go.

Shannon's six secrets: Simplification. Analogy. Reframing. Abstraction. Division. Inversion. - Claude Shannon (1954), a modern summary. ... added to my fortune database @ http://github.com/globalcitizen/taoup

As a mnemonic: SARADI or SAnRAbDI.

Re: Claude Shannon’s method for formulating and solving problems

#22

Post by deltafreq369 » Tue, Aug 29, 2017, 12:42 AM UTC

Would like to know how quickly Shannon cycled through these steps. The "fill your mental matrix" may suggest some for of priming or unconscious process taking place, perhaps over night, or over a walk? My experience is that ideas take time to bloom.

Re: Claude Shannon’s method for formulating and solving problems

#23

Post by open_bear » Tue, Aug 29, 2017, 2:17 AM UTC

henrik_w wrote: post #7

Very good. Reminds me of the book "How to solve it" by Polya. I also like the Feynman problem solving algorithm: 1) Write down the problem. 2) Think very hard. 3) Write down the solution.

"Hammock driven development" is the modern application to the software engineering (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f84n5oFoZBc)

Re: Claude Shannon’s method for formulating and solving problems

#24

Post by Schwolop » Tue, Aug 29, 2017, 3:48 AM UTC

My favourite of Shannon's theorems:

Shannon’s Juggling Theorem

(F+D)H=(V+D)N

F is the time a ball spends in the air (Flight)

D is the time a ball spends in a hand (Dwell), or equivalently, the time a hand spends with a ball in it

V is the time a hand spends empty (Vacant)

N is the number of balls

H is the number of hands

(http://lkozma.net/blog/shannons-juggling-theorem/ for more details)

Re: Claude Shannon’s method for formulating and solving problems

#25

Post by ronjouch » Wed, Aug 30, 2017, 11:52 AM UTC

contingencies wrote: post #9

rihegher wrote: post #2

Step 1: Simplify. Simplify. Simplify. Step 2: Fill your 'mental matrix' with solutions to similar problems. Step 3: Approach the problem from many different angles. Step 4: Break a big problem down into small pieces. Step 5: Solve the problem 'backwards.' Step 6: If you've solved the problem, extend that solution out as far as it will go.

Shannon's six secrets: Simplification. Analogy. Reframing. Abstraction. Division. Inversion. - Claude Shannon (1954), a modern summary. ... added to my fortune database @ http://github.com/globalcitizen/taoup

Cool collection! Thanks, added to my shell startup :)