Big Bulb 's Key Ideas from How to Solve It
by George Polya

Once the fog clears, ask: Have I seen a problem like this before?

Use analogies. Recall similar challenges.

Common strategies:

• Break it into parts

• Work backward

• Try simpler versions

• Spot patterns

Don’t wait for genius—look for leverage.

This is where most get stuck: not from lack of smarts, but from distraction or rushing.

Stick to your method.

Be accurate. Be patient.

Test each step.

Mistakes here don’t mean failure—they’re feedback.

Finished? Good. Now replay the game.

• Can you check your answer another way?

• Could this method help solve other problems?

• What did you learn about how you think?

Reflection turns a one-time win into long-term wisdom.

Pólya champions the curious mind.

Instead of “What’s the answer?” try:

• “What would happen if…?”

• “Can I see this differently?”

• “Why does this work?”

Questions open doors. Answers just close one.

Heuristics are mental tools—not guaranteed, but powerful.

Some classics:

• Try special cases

• Draw a diagram

• Eliminate impossibilities

• Use symmetry

Real problem solvers think beyond plug-and-play.

Uncertainty isn’t a weakness. It’s the birthplace of problem solving.

Pólya invites us to linger in the unknown—to poke, prod, and explore.

Sometimes, “I don’t know… yet” is the best start.

Problem solving is a skill—not an inborn gift.

With practice, you get sharper:

• You recognize patterns faster

• You get comfortable with uncertainty

• You fail better

Your mind gets leaner, keener, wiser.

The point isn’t to memorize techniques.

It’s to become the kind of thinker who naturally explores, adapts, and reflects.

Problem solving is an art—and like any art, it gets better the more you practice.

Start with the next question life throws at you.