Transcript The tumor problem

The tumor problem
The tumor problem by Duncker (1945):
Imagine a person suffers from a malignant tumor in the center of
her body. Only strong X-rays can destroy the tumor, but it also
destroys the healthy tissue surrounding the tumor:
Tumor
X-rays
Cross section of abdomen
Contributor
© POSbase 2005
The tumor problem
The solution to the tumor problem:
You turn the source of radiation around he body so that all
radiation goes through the tumor, but only part of it through
healthy tissue: :
Tumor
X-rays
Cross section of abdomen
X-rays
X-rays
X-rays
X-rays
X-rays
© POSbase 2005
The tumor problem
This problem has been used in more recent
research on problem solving (e.g., Gick &
Holyoak, 1980).
It is a nice example of a problem whose
solution is accompanied by a subjective
experience of insight.
© POSbase 2005