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Comment by stcredzero | Hacker News Reader

Here's how I did my hardest take home exams in grad school:

    - Attempt to solve problem using tools learned in the course
    - Attempt to solve problem using "standard" tools
    - Fail at the above
    - Go to bed
    - Wake up, shower, eat breakfast

I'd have the answers in the last step.

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There's research on intuition and the unconscious mind to back this up. Apparently, for a lot of problems the best way to solve it is by thinking very hard about it and then letting it go. Your unconscious mind will go on, especially when you're doing activities such as showering (which has little distractions), and all of a sudden you will have the solution.

I use this technique all the time, if I can't think of a solution for a hard problem I'll just leave it and go for a run, take a shower or work an another problem.

Unfortunately, I only have read a book from the Dutch psychologist Ap Dijksterhuis, which is unfortunately in Dutch, but I'm sure there are people here who will have some references in English.

For this reason, take home exams are evil. Also, get rid of the fourth strategy

I think the fourth is crucial.

After a point, but I think a large part of getting a problem is committing maximal time and energy to solving it or "dying"

Taking your (conscious) mind off a full day's work allows your subconscious to process it, let your conclusions "sink in". That's why people often have the solutions in our sleep.

I don't think I've ever solved a difficult problem while actually focusing on the problem.

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