Overview

Technical problems must be solved in all areas of human activity. The foundation of these problems is always the removal of contradictions. In time, a theory for solving problems will be developed in science, art, and the administrative activities of society. Individual theories will slowly blend into a"CommonTheory of Creative Thinking." This may happen in 20 to 30 years. Today we must perfect our Creative Thinking process by solving inventive problems.

We can start with problems that require only our minds and some thought. These problems do not require any specialized knowledge of physics. They can be solved by sixth grade students who need only think a little.

Problem 57: The Hunter and the Dog

Once there was an old hunter who brought his dog hunting in the forest. The dog barked when it found its prey, and the hunter walked toward the sound. But disaster struck when the hunter lost his hearing. In order to find its prey, the dog must be free and not kept close to the hunter. But, since the hunter couldn't hear the dog barking, the dog must stay close enough to be within the hunter's sight. This is a contradiction!

And suddenly the inventor....

No! In this story the inventor did not appear. The old hunter starved for many days trying to think of what to do. Finally he found the solution.

Let us try to solve the problem. First we have to draw a diagram of the conditions of the problem: "Dog"...