Which term describes a problem-solving approach that uses rules of thumb to arrive at a quick solution, possibly sacrificing exactness?

Which term describes a problem-solving approach that uses rules of thumb to arrive at a quick solution, possibly sacrificing exactness?

• A. Randomization
• B. Heuristic solution
• C. Pseudocode
• D. Binary Search

Answer: (B)

Relying on practical shortcuts to get a quick answer, even if it isn’t perfectly exact, is what a heuristic approach is all about. Heuristics are rule-of-thumb strategies used to simplify and speed up problem solving when time, information, or cognitive effort are limited. They aim for a good-enough solution fast, rather than an exact, guaranteed one. That’s why this term fits best. Randomization involves chance and doesn’t imply a consistent shortcut for speed or accuracy; pseudocode is just a human-readable way to describe an algorithm, not a quick-and-dirty solving method; binary search is a precise algorithm that narrows the search space with exact results, not an approximate shortcut.

Relying on practical shortcuts to get a quick answer, even if it isn’t perfectly exact, is what a heuristic approach is all about. Heuristics are rule-of-thumb strategies used to simplify and speed up problem solving when time, information, or cognitive effort are limited. They aim for a good-enough solution fast, rather than an exact, guaranteed one.

That’s why this term fits best. Randomization involves chance and doesn’t imply a consistent shortcut for speed or accuracy; pseudocode is just a human-readable way to describe an algorithm, not a quick-and-dirty solving method; binary search is a precise algorithm that narrows the search space with exact results, not an approximate shortcut.