Equivalent Transformation Method
Updated 2026-08-22
INTRODUCTION
English translation pending.
CORE DEFINITION
Developed by Ichikawa Kumihisa as the equivalent transformation theory of creative thinking, this method abstracts the essential function of a problem into an equivalent model and then borrows the solution structure found in another domain. The core proposition is that a problem and its equivalent form share the same solution, so solving the easier form solves the original. The key qualification is that the equivalence must hold at the level of essential function rather than surface appearance, since analogies drawn from superficial resemblance produce conclusions that do not transfer back.
SCAFFOLDING EFFECT
Reduce cognitive load
- Function abstraction: strip the problem down to its essential input-output relation before looking for analogues. - Cross-domain search: look for another field whose structure matches that abstraction. - Mapping back: translate the borrowed solution into your original terms and verify it holds.
Anchor fast decisions
Difficulty is often a property of representation rather than of the underlying problem. When two situations share the same functional structure, any valid solution to one is valid for the other. Reframing therefore gives access to solutions that other fields have already tested and refined, converting a novel problem into a familiar one.
MINIMUM ACTION
In progress 0/1Practice this model in one real situation:
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Source support: Explicit
- zh.wikipedia.orghttps://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%AD%89%E4%BB%B7%E5%8F%98%E6%8D%A2%E7%90%86%E8%AE%BAverified
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