A methodical, logical rule or procedure that guarantees solving a problem is called what?

• A. Heuristic
• B. Algorithm
• C. Insight
• D. Prototype

Answer: (B)

A methodical, logical rule or procedure that guarantees solving a problem is called an algorithm. An algorithm is a precise, finite sequence of steps that, when followed correctly, will produce a solution for well-defined problems. The guarantee comes from the explicit nature of the steps and their well-defined inputs and outputs, so if you implement the algorithm properly it should terminate with the correct result.

The other terms fit different ideas: a heuristic is a practical rule of thumb that helps you solve problems faster but doesn’t guarantee a correct solution in every case; an insight is a sudden realization or understanding that helps solve a problem, not a fixed step-by-step method; a prototype is an early model used to test and explore ideas, not a universal solving procedure.