Here are 25 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) related to Artificial Intelligence, focusing specifically on Problem-Solving Agents. Each question includes four options, the correct answer, and a brief explanation. These MCQ questions cover various aspects of AI problem-solving agents, including algorithms, search strategies, optimization techniques, and problem-solving methods, providing a comprehensive overview of this area in AI.
1. What is the primary objective of a problem-solving agent in AI?
Answer:
Explanation:
A problem-solving agent is designed to find a sequence of actions that leads from the initial state to a goal state, solving a specific problem or achieving a set goal.
2. In AI, a heuristic function is used in problem-solving to:
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Explanation:
A heuristic function is used to guide the search process by providing an educated guess about the cost to reach the goal from each node, thus helping to efficiently reduce the search space.
3. Which algorithm is commonly used for pathfinding in AI?
Answer:
Explanation:
The A* Algorithm is widely used for pathfinding and graph traversal. It efficiently finds the shortest path between two nodes in a graph, combining the features of uniform-cost search and greedy best-first search.
4. What is "backtracking" in AI problem-solving?
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Explanation:
Backtracking involves going back to previous states and trying different actions when the current path does not lead to a solution, allowing for exploring alternative solutions.
5. The "branch and bound" technique in AI is used to:
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Explanation:
Branch and bound is an algorithmic technique used for solving various optimization problems. It systematically enumerates candidate solutions by branching and then uses a bounding function to eliminate suboptimal solutions.
6. Which of the following is a characteristic of a depth-first search algorithm?
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Explanation:
Depth-first search explores as far as possible along each branch before backtracking, going deep into a search tree before exploring siblings of earlier nodes.
7. In AI, "constraint satisfaction problems" are typically solved using:
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Explanation:
Constraint satisfaction problems, where a set of constraints must be met, are commonly solved using backtracking algorithms, which incrementally build candidates to the solutions and abandon candidates as soon as they determine that the candidate cannot possibly be completed to a valid solution.
8. The primary goal of "minimax" algorithm in AI is:
Answer:
Explanation:
The minimax algorithm is used in decision-making and game theory to minimize the possible loss for a worst-case scenario. When dealing with gains, it seeks to maximize the minimum gain.
9. What is "state space" in AI problem-solving?
Answer:
Explanation:
The state space in AI problem-solving refers to the set of all possible states that can be reached from the initial state by applying a sequence of actions. It is often represented as a graph.
10. In AI, "pruning" in the context of search algorithms refers to:
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Explanation:
Pruning in search algorithms involves eliminating paths that are unlikely to lead to the goal or are less optimal, thus reducing the search space and improving efficiency.
11. The "traveling salesman problem" in AI is an example of:
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Explanation:
The traveling salesman problem is a classic optimization problem in AI and computer science, where the goal is to find the shortest possible route that visits a set of locations and returns to the origin.
12. "Greedy best-first search" in AI prioritizes:
Answer:
Explanation:
Greedy best-first search is a search algorithm that prioritizes nodes that seem to be leading to a solution the quickest, often using a heuristic to estimate the cost from the current node to the goal.
13. In AI, "dynamic programming" is used to:
Answer:
Explanation:
Dynamic programming is a method for solving complex problems by breaking them down into simpler subproblems. It is used when the subproblems are overlapping and the problem exhibits the properties of optimal substructure.
14. The "Monte Carlo Tree Search" algorithm in AI is widely used in:
Answer:
Explanation:
Monte Carlo Tree Search (MCTS) is an algorithm used for making decisions in some kinds of game-playing, particularly where it is impractical to search all possible moves due to the complexity of the game.
15. What does an "admissible heuristic" in AI guarantee?
Answer:
Explanation:
An admissible heuristic is one that never overestimates the cost to reach the goal. In heuristic search algorithms, using an admissible heuristic guarantees finding an optimal solution.
16. The concept of "hill climbing" in AI problem solving is similar to:
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Explanation:
Hill climbing in AI is a mathematical optimization technique which belongs to the family of local search. It is used to solve computational problems by continuously moving in the direction of increasing elevation or value.
17. The "no free lunch theorem" in AI implies that:
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Explanation:
The "no free lunch" theorem states that no one algorithm works best for every problem. It implies that each problem needs to be approached uniquely and that there's no universally superior method.
18. In AI, "means-ends analysis" is a technique used in:
Answer:
Explanation:
Means-ends analysis is a problem-solving technique used in AI that involves breaking down the difference between the current state and the goal state into smaller and smaller differences, then achieving those smaller goals.
19. The "Pigeonhole principle" in AI is used to:
Answer:
Explanation:
In AI and mathematics, the Pigeonhole principle is used to prove that a solution exists under certain conditions. It states that if n items are put into m containers, with n > m, then at least one container must contain more than one item.
20. "Simulated annealing" in AI is inspired by:
Answer:
Explanation:
Simulated annealing is an optimization algorithm that mimics the process of annealing in metallurgy. It involves heating and controlled cooling of a material to increase the size of its crystals and reduce their defects.
21. In AI, the "Bellman-Ford algorithm" is used for:
Answer:
Explanation:
The Bellman-Ford algorithm is an algorithm that computes shortest paths from a single source vertex to all of the other vertices in a weighted graph. It's particularly useful for graphs where edge weights may be negative.
22. What is the primary function of "Alpha-Beta pruning" in AI?
Answer:
Explanation:
Alpha-Beta pruning is a search algorithm that seeks to decrease the number of nodes that are evaluated by the minimax algorithm in its search tree. It is used in game playing to prune away branches that cannot possibly influence the final decision.
23. The "Hungarian algorithm" in AI is best suited for solving:
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Explanation:
The Hungarian algorithm, a combinatorial optimization algorithm, is used for solving assignment problems where the goal is to assign resources or tasks to agents in the most effective way.
24. In problem-solving, "depth-limited search" is used to:
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Explanation:
Depth-limited search is a modification of depth-first search, where the search is limited to a specific depth. This prevents the algorithm from going down infinitely deep paths and helps manage the use of memory.
25. "Bidirectional search" in AI problem solving is used to:
Answer:
Explanation:
Bidirectional search is an efficient search strategy that runs two simultaneous searches: one forward from the initial state and the other backward from the goal, stopping when the two meet. This approach can drastically reduce the amount of required exploration.