Basics to Improve Your Reasoning
Source: Dev.to
Introduction
Hello, I’m Maneshwar. I’m working on FreeDevTools, an online, open‑source hub that brings together dev tools, cheat codes, and TLDRs in one place so developers can quickly find what they need without endless searching.
A Simple Pause Improves Accuracy
Before answering anything, take a brief pause and ask yourself:
- What exactly is being asked?
- What assumptions am I making?
- What would make this answer wrong?
That short pause alone can dramatically improve accuracy.
Structuring Your Reasoning
When solving any problem, write down:
- Inputs
- Goal
- Constraints
- Trade‑offs
If you can’t explain your reasoning in 3–5 clear steps, you probably don’t understand it yet.
Label Facts and Inferences
- Facts – what you directly know or observe.
- Inferences – what you conclude from those facts.
Ask: If this inference is wrong, which fact disproves it? Good reasoners constantly test their own ideas.
Testing Your Answer
After forming an answer, ask: In what case does this fail?
- Try extreme inputs, edge cases, and adversarial scenarios.
- If your idea survives attack, it’s probably solid.
Don’t apply this to every trivial problem—focus on the important ones.
Problem‑Solving Process
- Strip the problem to its fundamentals.
- Ignore conventions and “how it’s usually done.”
- Rebuild a solution from the constraints.
This approach is especially powerful for systems, performance, and architecture decisions.
Contrasting Solutions
For any problem, force yourself to find:
- A simple solution
- A brute‑force solution
- An optimized solution
- A “wrong but tempting” solution
Understanding why one is better than the others is where reasoning grows. Many people skip this step.
Learning from Mistakes
When you’re wrong, don’t just correct it—ask:
- Which assumption misled me?
- What signal did I ignore?
- How could I have detected this earlier?
Mistakes become compressed lessons.
Teaching and Explaining
If you can teach a concept simply, you truly understand it. Try explaining:
- Without jargon
- Without skipping steps
- Without “trust me” leaps
If you get stuck, that gap highlights what you need to fix.
Reading Technical Material
- Pause after each section.
- Predict what comes next.
- Ask why a design exists, not just how it works.
Passive reading doesn’t improve reasoning; interrogating the text does.
Metrics for Better Answers
Instead of valuing speed, focus on:
- Fewer reversals
- Cleaner explanations
- Better edge‑case handling
- Stronger confidence supported by evidence
Call to Action
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