Appearing Quote by Donald Knuth
“The book Dynamic Programming by Richard Bellman is an important, pioneering work in which a group of problems is collected together at the end of some chapters under the heading "Exercises and Research Problems," with extremely trivial questions appearing in the midst of deep, unsolved problems. It is rumored that someone once asked Dr. Bellman how to tell the exercises apart from the research problems, and he replied: "If you can solve it, it is an exercise; otherwise it's a research problem."”
About This Quote
Source Book: Dynamic Programming by Richard Bellman, 1957
The quote highlights the thin line between solved exercises and unsolved research problems, emphasizing how trivial tasks can sit beside deep challenges.
In simple terms: Solved tasks are exercises; unsolved ones are research problems.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and differentiate between easy and hard problems.
Themes
problem solving
research
education
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
educational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic coursework
- research planning
- problem identification
Key Concepts
algorithmic thinking
complexity theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you decide if a problem is worth researching?
- What criteria distinguish an exercise from a research problem?
A Different Perspective
Not all problems are clearly labeled; context matters.
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