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MENTAL MODEL · M0171

Means-Ends Analysis

Means-Ends Analysis
TechnicalHigh supportArtificial Intelligence
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-28

CORE DEFINITION

Means–ends analysis (MEA) is a problem solving technique used commonly in artificial intelligence (AI) for limiting search in AI programs. MEA was designed by two scientist Allen Newel and Herbert A. Simon in 1957, later on, the idea of MEA led to the General Problem Solver, with J.C Shaw..

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Means–ends analysis (MEA) is a problem solving technique used commonly in artificial intelligence (AI) for limiting search in AI programs. MEA was designed by two scientist Allen Newel and Herbert A.

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A problem-solving method proposed by Newell and Simon. It maintains the "current state" and "goal state", calculates the difference, and selects an operator that can reduce the difference; if the operator's preconditions are not met, it sets "satisfying the preconditions" as a subgoal and recursively solves it. It continuously reduces grand goals to executable actions, and is the core of GPS (General Problem Solver).

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Source support: Explicit

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    en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Means%E2%80%93ends_analysisZH · Explicit
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