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Psychology · Chapter 8

Algorithm vs. Heuristic

Unscramble the same five letters two different ways. An algorithm checks every possibility — guaranteed to work, but slow. A heuristic is a mental shortcut — fast and usually right, but not guaranteed. Pick a strategy, then step or auto-run and watch the attempt counts diverge.

The scramble

Algorithm—
Heuristic—
attempts needed to reach the answer
Choose a strategythen press Try next ›