The hottest Problem Solving Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Education Topics

Mental Models: tools supporting problem solvers for better decision making

Poczwardowski Notes • 39 implied HN points • 07 Nov 23
🚌 Education Decision-making Problem Solving Learning
  1. Using mental models can enhance decision-making by offering different perspectives and minimizing blind spots.
  2. Engaging with tools and frameworks like mental models can lead to improved problem-solving strategies.
  3. Learning from mistakes is valuable, but utilizing structured models like mental models can equip problem solvers with additional support.

Leverage Points for solving complex problems

Turnaround • 277 implied HN points • 01 Aug 22
💼 Business Management Systems Thinking Problem Solving Product Management
  1. Complex problems require moving away from linear thinking and embracing complexity thinking that involves understanding interconnections and dependencies.
  2. Leverage points in a system are areas where small changes can cause significant overall impact. These include adjusting parameters, dealing with stock buffers, considering system structures, managing feedback loops, controlling information flows, setting incentives and rules, enabling self-organization, and aligning with system goals and paradigms.
  3. Differentiating between complicated and complex systems is crucial in problem-solving. In complex interconnected systems, problem statements often fall into categories such as coupled, causal, or standalone.
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Modernity != Value

Sarah's Newsletter • 299 implied HN points • 19 Apr 22
🕹 Technology Data Analytics Data Tools Data Platforms Problem Solving
  1. Having modern tools doesn't guarantee providing value - it's more about how analytics teams use the tools to drive organizational change.
  2. The focus should be on delivering value to the organization rather than just building data platforms or using the most modern tools.
  3. Start simple with the minimum viable data stack and only add complexity when necessary - focus on solving real problems and evaluating tools based on problem-solving, maintenance, and scalability.

[Review] Move First, Think Later: Sense and Nonsense in Improving Your Chess

Arjun Panickssery • 39 implied HN points • 18 Sep 23
🚌 Education Chess Learning Reading Problem Solving
  1. The book challenges traditional chess teaching methods by emphasizing pattern recognition over structured thinking.
  2. Verbal descriptions may not be effective in teaching chess moves, as examples show that pattern familiarity is crucial.
  3. The effectiveness of absorbing chess patterns quickly is compared to language learning, emphasizing the importance of practical application.

Problem 83: Packing Robots [Brilliant]

Technology Made Simple • 79 implied HN points • 13 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Problem Solving AI Machine Learning Coding Subscription
  1. The post discusses a problem about packing robots with specific arrangement requirements that can help in developing problem-solving techniques.
  2. It emphasizes the importance of consistency in learning by providing weekly problems for practice and solutions.
  3. The author encourages sharing content and referrals as they help in personal growth and reaching more people.

[Solution]Problem 77: Gas Station [Microsoft]

Technology Made Simple • 79 implied HN points • 03 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Problem Solving
  1. The problem involves solving for the starting gas station's index on a circular route given gas and cost arrays.
  2. The solution should account for the unique constraints and requirements of the problem, such as unlimited gas, specific costs, and potential limitations in traveling the circuit.
  3. By improving fundamental coding concepts, problem-solving skills, and practicing with similar scenarios, tackling complex interview problems becomes more manageable.

Six thinking hats

A Bit Gamey • 13 implied HN points • 17 Dec 23
🚌 Education Problem Solving Decision-making Creativity Critical Thinking Personal Development
  1. The Six Thinking Hats method by Edward de Bono helps in problem solving by considering different perspectives.
  2. Each hat represents a specific viewpoint like emotions, caution, facts, optimism, creativity, and control.
  3. Using the Six Thinking Hats approach can lead to clearer thinking, innovative ideas, effective communication, and better decision-making.

6 YouTube channels for developing your problem solving skills [Technique Tuesdays]

Technology Made Simple • 79 implied HN points • 08 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Problem Solving Computer Science Skill development
  1. Study underlying concepts and practice problems to improve problem-solving skills
  2. Watching experts solve problems can help you learn and progress in your own problem-solving journey
  3. Subscribing to specific YouTube channels like Byte by Bte, Back to Back SWE, Abdul Bari, Ryan Schachte, MindYourDecisions, and TED-Ed can provide valuable insights and techniques for sharpening your problem-solving skills

[Solution]Problem 83: Packing Robots [Brilliant]

Technology Made Simple • 59 implied HN points • 14 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Coding Problem Solving Artificial Intelligence
  1. To solve complex problems efficiently, focus on variable reduction, ordering, and systematic problem solving.
  2. Practice quick problem-solving to excel in interviews, especially as the trend steers away from traditional Leetcode questions.
  3. Mastering the right methods for solving simpler questions can greatly help in tackling more challenging problems in the future.

Solving f'(x)= f^(-1)(x) [the inverse of f(x)] [Math Mondays]

Technology Made Simple • 79 implied HN points • 17 Jan 23
🚌 Education Math Problem Solving Software Engineering
  1. Solving f'(x)= f^(-1)(x) is a powerful technique in problem solving used in Math and Software.
  2. Math and coding share similar neural pathways, making a Math background beneficial for coding.
  3. When solving problems, start with a warm-up, rely on pattern matching, attack problems from multiple angles, and remember that complex solutions can have simple building blocks.

Why the Abstraction and Reasoning Corpus is interesting and important for AI

AI: A Guide for Thinking Humans • 60 HN points • 01 Mar 23
🕹 Technology AI Machine Learning Neural Networks Problem Solving Research
  1. Forming and abstracting concepts is crucial for human intelligence and AI.
  2. The Abstraction and Reasoning Corpus is a challenging domain that tests AI's ability to infer abstract rules.
  3. Current AI struggles with ARC tasks, showing limitations in solving visual and spatial reasoning problems.

[Solution]Problem 78: Finding the Distance between 2 sets[Goldman Sachs]

Technology Made Simple • 59 implied HN points • 11 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Math Problem Solving Logic
  1. The post discusses a math problem involving finding the distance between two sets in an n-dimensional space of real numbers.
  2. It explains key terms such as |x| for distance from the origin and inf(D) for the lowest distance given two sets.
  3. The post offers a 7-day free trial for more content on technology problem-solving and solutions.

TBM 274: How Capable Leaders Navigate Uncertainty and Ambiguity

The Beautiful Mess • 3 HN points • 25 Feb 24
💼 Business Leadership Skills Interviewing Complexity Problem Solving
  1. Accepting one's role in a problem is vital for capable leadership. Recognizing personal contributions to a situation allows for growth and improvement.
  2. Encouraging new interaction patterns fosters creativity and growth. Facilitating connections and exposure to new experiences can lead to positive outcomes.
  3. Patiently allowing for divergence and exploring multiple solutions is key. Resisting the urge to rush towards solutions can yield more innovative and effective approaches.

Blockage

Joshua's Notes • 39 implied HN points • 21 Jun 23
💼 Business Productivity Problem Solving
  1. Dealing with blockage in projects: consider brute force or stepping away.
  2. Brute force and sheer will can be effective in solving certain problems.
  3. Sometimes, stepping away to clear your mind can help you see the problem in a different light.

[Solution]Problem 73: Find the smallest positive number missing from an unsorted array [Apple]

Technology Made Simple • 59 implied HN points • 03 Feb 23
🚌 Education Problem Solving Arrays
  1. When given a complex problem, consider starting with a simpler version to gain insights on how to approach the harder problem.
  2. Challenging problems often have specific constraints that indicate the existence of a trickier, optimized solution. However, don't let these constraints limit your exploration of simpler, slower solutions first.
  3. To solve harder problems smoothly, create a brute-force solution and optimize incrementally. Remember to focus on maximizing efficiency in terms of time and space complexity.

[Solution]Problem 84: Discover minimum transmission range [Spotify]

Technology Made Simple • 39 implied HN points • 21 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Arrays Problem Solving
  1. The problem involves determining the minimum broadcast range needed to cover all listeners along a line, given a set of radio towers and listener locations.
  2. Understanding arrays and problem-solving techniques is crucial for solving this type of problem.
  3. Reframing the problem and approaching it systematically can help in identifying the minimum transmission range efficiently.

The Five Secrets Of Online Income

Day One • 439 implied HN points • 02 Apr 20
💼 Business Skills Development Problem Solving Networking
  1. To make money online, you need to attract attention by talking about what you do in places where people are
  2. Understanding the needs of people is crucial for success in online income, as it helps you offer solutions that people are looking for
  3. Stick to what you know and focus on solving specific problems that you can offer solutions for to connect with potential customers

Proof By Contradiction [Math Mondays]

Technology Made Simple • 39 implied HN points • 28 Feb 23
🚌 Education Math Computer Science Problem Solving Learning Techniques
  1. Proof by contradiction is a powerful proof technique where you assume the opposite to be true and derive a contradiction, leading to the original statement being true.
  2. Skills needed for Proof by Contradiction, like defining the problem statement clearly and building logical inferences, align well with problem-solving in Leetcode and software engineering.
  3. To learn Proof by Contradiction effectively, focus on topics like Sets, Probability, Theoretical Computer Science, and Graph Theory for practical application.

[Solution]Problem 75: Reorder List [Meta/Facebook]

Technology Made Simple • 39 implied HN points • 17 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Coding Problem Solving
  1. The post discusses a solution for rearranging a linked list in a specific pattern, providing examples and constraints.
  2. It encourages problem-solving skills by reinforcing fundamental concepts through problem-solving and preparing for technical interviews.
  3. Consider subscribing to access more articles and support the creator's work, appealing to a broader audience.

Problem 75: Reorder List [Meta/Facebook]

Technology Made Simple • 39 implied HN points • 16 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Coding Problem Solving Tech industry
  1. The newsletter discusses a coding problem about reordering a linked list, which requires understanding of linked lists, pointer manipulation, and problem-solving skills.
  2. There is emphasis on focusing on important problems rather than mindlessly solving a large number of problems, suggesting that quality over quantity is key in interview preparation.
  3. The post also offers a premium subscription service to enhance tech skills, providing expert insights, tips, and resources, with a discount for new subscribers.

Problem 74: Find the First True in a Sorted Boolean Array [Stripe]

Technology Made Simple • 39 implied HN points • 09 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Logic Problem Solving Arrays
  1. The post discusses the problem of finding the first true value in a sorted boolean array, with a specific focus on the index of the first true element.
  2. It mentions industry news about layoffs in companies like Zoom and Disney, prompting readers to explore more about such topics.
  3. The writer emphasizes the release of a Tech Made Simple Ebook on Amazon and offers insights into the content and its accessibility.

The Infinte Hotel Paradox [Math Mondays]

Technology Made Simple • 59 implied HN points • 27 Sep 22
🚌 Education Math Problem Solving
  1. The Infinite Hotel Paradox, created by mathematician David Hilbert, shows the mind-bending concept of infinity in a fun brain teaser.
  2. Solving paradoxes like this can improve problem-solving skills, similar to working on coding problems.
  3. The paradox involves scenarios like trying to accommodate an infinite number of guests in an infinitely occupied hotel, posing challenging questions.

Problem 57:Longest Repeating Character with Replacement[Google]

Technology Made Simple • 59 implied HN points • 21 Sep 22
🕹 Technology Coding Interviews Newsletter Problem Solving Tutoring
  1. The problem involves finding the longest substring with the same repeated character after replacing some characters. It's about choosing characters and performing operations.
  2. The examples illustrate how to approach the problem by changing characters in the string according to the constraints given.
  3. Constraints include the length of the input string, the character constraints in the string, and the limit on character replacements.