Universal way of solving problems of mathematical genius

The word "genius" is often scattered, but a few who deserve it with the same unconditional, as the engineer and mathematician Claude Shannon. He is considered the father of the Information Age. He did not just formulate questions and sought answers to it, and has consistently developed the process, which would help him to notice something that is not in sight.

Of course, the problem with which he worked, different from the usual, but his approach can be generalized and used by all. Blogger Zet Rana (Zat Rana) I toldExactly how to do it.

1. Identify the problem, rather than focus only on the details

We all understand how important it is to find the answer. But we often forget that it needs to properly Ask a Question. We get hung up on details, jumping from one to the other, in the hope that they eventually merge into a single entity.

Shannon did quite the opposite. Some of his colleagues even thought that it is not sufficiently well suited to the construction of a coherent picture.

But he reasoned that have not yet separated from the problems of all the non-essential, will not see its essence. And it leads to the answer.

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Sometimes the problem is not to know when to get to the point. It is therefore important not to cling to details, not to look for the answer in the wrong direction. To begin, try to separate the still insignificant. So you train yourself to notice the basis of the problems hidden behind unimportant details.

2. Reframe the problem

Hesitation on the problem, we narrow the perception and can see only one way to solve. Logical thinking is looking for reasonable relationship, and if done correctly, always leads to the same place. Creative thinking It arranged a little differently. It is also looking for relationships, but they are less coherent and more spontaneous. This gives rise to new patterns of thinking.

To encourage this process, Shannon all sorts of ways to reformulate the problem. For example, I exaggerated and downplayed it, expressed in other words, turned over and looked at it from a different perspective.

This exercise helps to see the problem holistically. In this case, its essence does not change.

For example, you can ask, "What is the best solution to this problem?" Or "What is the worst solution" Both questions will tell about her something new, so it is useful to consider both.

3. Multiply the essence of incoming information

To solve the problem, you need a good idea. But for this you will first need to come up with a lot of bad ideas. It is not enough simply to list everything.

There are people who hear one idea in reply will be given only half. And there are those who each received two more will come up with the idea.

Claude Shannon

Shannon himself, of course, refers to the second type of people. And because of his statements can be made an interesting conclusion. It's not just the amount of ideas. In any incoming information are special that tells some truth. This truth is at the basis of the solution of various problems.

coming up good ideasYou need to learn how to increase the essence of the incoming information. Bad ideas arise when you have misunderstood the point. The better you define it, the more effective will find ideas. Yes, the first step - to increase the number of ideas produced, but the effect will be noticeable only when you will understand their essence.