1.  Introduction

1.1 What is Problem Solving?

What exactly is a problem? In simple terms, a problem is a situation where you want something, but the way to get it isn’t immediately. It’s the gap between where you are and where you want to be.

Now, why is problem solving so important, especially in programming? Well, programming is all about solving problems with code. Whether you’re building a game, analyzing data, or automating a task, you’re essentially taking a problem and breaking it down into smaller, manageable steps that a computer can understand.  Learning Python is a great way to get into problem solving, because of its versatility.

And it’s not just about coding! The problem-solving skills you develop here will help you in all areas of your life.

1.2 Problem-Solving Steps

So, how do we approach a problem? There’s a general framework we can use :

Ø Understand the problem: What are you trying to achieve? What information do you have? What are the constraints?

Ø Develop a plan: How are you going to tackle the problem? Can you break it down into smaller sub-problems? What tools or techniques can you use?

Ø Carry out the plan: Implement your plan, step by step. Write code, test it, and debug it.

Ø Look back and reflect: Did your solution work? Can you improve it? What did you learn from the process?

We’ll be applying this framework to programming problems throughout this course. Remember, problem-solving is an iterative process, it might take time, so don’t worry if you don’t get it right away!