Informed (Heuristic) Search

Answer the following questions. Record your answers in your Reading Journal.

Select the sentence from today's reading that best summarizes the advantage(s) of A^* over other search algorithms you know about. Briefly (3-5 sentences) explain why you chose this sentence.
Pages 94-95 give arguments for the optimality of A^* under two heuristic conditions: admissibility and consistency. State which argument or condition you find more intuitive and/or convincing. Briefly explain your choice. (Be sure to relate aspects of both in your explanation).
Of those suggested in the text, identify the technique for creating heuristics that you would likely try first on a new problem. Briefly explain your choice.
Identify the sentence, section, or concept from the current or previous reading that remains the most confusing to you. Briefly explain what you find confusing about it.