Working Backward Heuristic

The working backward heuristic is a mental trick that can be used for problem solving scenarios. A heuristic is a mental shortcut that speeds up learning and problem solving methods. Heuristics often use an individual's personal experiences in order to aid problem solving and learning processes.

The working backward heuristic is a method of problem solving in which an individual imagines they have already solved the problem they are trying to solve. By imagining the problem is solved they can then work backwards in their mind and eventually visualize a solution to the problem. By trying to find the multiple connections from a problem to a solution one can use the connections to discover a suitable solution. The working backward heuristic is commonly used in mathematics and logic problems.