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An algorithm is preferable to a heuristic when the priority is:
AAvoiding instructions
BCertainty of the answer
CSheer speed above all
DMinimum mental effort
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. Certainty of the answer
1. The two strategies differ in what they guarantee.
2. An algorithm is a problem-solving formula that provides step-by-step instructions used to achieve a desired outcome.
3. Following every step reliably reaches that outcome.
4. A heuristic is another type of problem solving strategy, trading reliability for speed.
5. So when being right matters more than being quick, the algorithm wins.
_Source: OpenStax Psychology 2e (CC BY 4.0), Ch 7 'Thinking and Intelligence', sections 7.1-7.5_
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