Logic Puzzles - Solve a Case like Sherlock Holmes

by Steve Hall

Have you ever read the mysteries of Sherlock Holmes? He could solve any case with ease by deducing the answer from the clues. He examined the individual clues of the case and then pieced them together to find the culprit. He could even figure out how the perpetrator completed his criminal act. His case solving skills were based largely around logical reasoning.

Logical reasoning is an important skill in many areas of life besides criminal cases. Effective logical reasoning plays a key role in engineering when designing machinery, systems, and logistical procedures. Logical reasoning is also present in event planning, finance, and many areas of science. Logic plays a role in nearly every situation through your different choices. The manner in which you proceed through each item affects the entire product.

Hypotheses and conclusions can be deduced and supported through logic which is an important stepping stone to success. Since logic is such a valuable skill it is essential to build your logical muscle. Historically children have been exposed to formal logic problems at a very young age beginning as early as elementary school. They commonly learn to solve logic problems in their mathematics class. There are many scenarios for logic problems.

Logic problems consist of a set of clues, usually in the form of statements, which students must take into account when solving the problem. For example, a basic logic problem could involve determining the favorite color of five different characters. Enough clues will be given so that the student can match up each character with their correct favorite color. The student does the matching through following the clues and also deducing the rest of the information based on the clues.

Procedures and tips to solve the logic problem are presented. Specifically, a teacher will demonstrate how to set up a grid that contains the character names in one column and the list of colors along a row on the top of the grid. Students are instructed to follow the clues to reduce their list of possible matches. They learn how each choice can affect every piece of information in their solution. It is a game of logic because you do this in a systematic manner and you ascertain information logically or by deduction.

However, it is of great benefit to the student if they attempt to solve the logic problem through their own methods first. This trial and error period of practice helps children become independent thinkers and figure out the problem themselves. Discovering the way to solve a problem will be cemented in a child's mind if they attempt to solve it on their own first as opposed to just being given the problem procedure and answer.

Logic problems can range in complexity. Beginning logic problems focus on matching up pairs of items based on a few constraints. Whereas advanced logic problems can center on deducing matches with several components and constraints. This allows logic problems to be fun for players of all ages and skill levels. Logic problems can be applied to an endless number of situations so you can never quite master every logic problem imaginable.

You can purchase books of fun logic problems at your book store. They are a nice alternative to crosswords and a great way to spend a rainy afternoon. You will keep your mind sharp and feel satisfied when you correctly figure out the puzzle. You can be a detective, like Sherlock Holmes, from the comfort of your own home.

About the Author

Steve is a member of the GrandMatrix team. Read more articles, download the latest PC games for free and play thousands of user submitted puzzles, quizzes and word games at GrandMatrix Free Game Downloads