In the engineering problem-solving cycle, repeating steps based on results is called what?

• A. Modification
• B. Iteration
• C. Optimization
• D. Verification

Answer: (B)

Iteration is the act of looping back through the problem-solving steps after seeing results, using what you learned to refine the design and test again. In engineering, you typically analyze or test a solution, learn from the outcomes, and then revise the approach before re-running analyses or tests. This repeating cycle pushes the solution toward meeting the requirements. For example, after prototyping and testing, you might change materials or geometry and perform another round of testing. Modification is just making changes, optimization is aiming for the best performance (often through iterations), and verification is checking that the results meet the criteria—these are related aspects, but the repeating process itself is iteration.