Question

How to differentiate between 'problem' and 'question'?

Answer 1

A problem is a difficulty that you're in. It is a 'situation' out of which you need help.
A question is simply a statement seeking information from the person it is directed to. A question mark(?) is an essential feature of this statement.
Some problems are expressed as questions. Like, mathematical problems. They all ask questions like 'What is the value of this expression?';'How many solutions does this equation have?'. You can call them mathematical problems or mathematical questions.
See that including an interrogative line(i.e. a line with a question mark) in the description of a problem makes it a question.
Not all questions are problems. 'What is your name?' 'Where do you live' just seek information, not a solution to any problem.
Ok?

Answer 2

So, is FFM's question a problem or a question? :P

Answer 3

If it contains a question mark at the end(or anywhere before it), it is a question. Otherwise, it's a problem. I think it is better to refer mathematical exercises as problems, because they describe a particular situation. But they can also be called questions.

Answer 4

Aren't they basically the same thing?

Answer 5

Actually, if a mathematical problem has a question mark, it can be referred to be both a problem and a question. If not, it's only a problem.
@thomas5267, not really. 'What's your name?' is a question, but not a problem.

Answer 6

I think not knowing someone's name is also quite a problem. How are you going to call them?

Answer 7

Good point, but not always. The 'problem' you're talking about is too small a situation to be given the status of a problem.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/problem?s=t
See the synonyms below in the link. 'Question' is not a synonym of 'problem'.
problem-any question or matter involving doubt, uncertainty, or difficulty.

Answer 8

Is it Ok, Callisto?

Answer 9

So questions are always problems but problems not always questions? So can I say that Question is a proper subset of Problems? (i.e.\(Question\subsetneq Problems\) , am I typing the symbol right? Hehe!)

Answer 10

So... whatever 'question' about math is, it just goes with the word problem....

Answer 11

@thomas5267 wow!!! I forgot all those symbols already :(

Answer 12

Questions are not always problems. I told you that not knowing some one's name is not a problem(there are billions whose names you don't know). 'What's your name' cannot be really considered as a problem. It doesn't involve any doubt, uncertainty etc. - it just seeks information.
To put it short, whenever you see a question mark, it's a question(in direct speech only). Otherwise not

Answer 13

\[Questions \in problems\] This looks better :)

Answer 14

Doing language with logic always results in disastrous failure...

Answer 15

Right, language has a logic which is in-built within us. In that matter, we should always trust our instincts.

Answer 16

Hmm.. from the link Mani gave us,
Problem -> any question or matter involving doubt, uncertainty, or difficulty.
Question ->a problem for discussion or under discussion; a matter for investigation.
OR
a matter of some uncertainty or difficulty; problem

Both involve uncertainty...

Answer 17

Somehow, I think FFM's are problems, mine are questions. Can this be right?

Answer 18

Actually why are you asking this?

Answer 19

When a post a question, I don't know which word is a better choice..

Answer 20

*When I post

Answer 21

I hardly can imagine anyone doing your math questions/problems will have enough time and mind power to investigate whether the word "question" or "problem" is appropriate or not. :)

Answer 22

Hmm.. good point... so what do you think, are my math questions/problems questions or problems? (so troublesome)

Answer 23

Of course, 'problem' is better. Every mathematical exercise is a problem, but not alwways a question.
Example:
In the figure, find the value of x. ------Problem
What is the value of x in the figure?-----------Question/Problem

Answer 24

Oh... I would have to edit all my questions them... Then, should OS change ''post a question'' into ''post a question or problem''?

Answer 25

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/question
Definition 2: a problem for discussion or under discussion; a matter for investigation.
SCREW IT!

Answer 26

Yup.. in definition 3, it ends with the word ' ;problem ' :S

Answer 27

The reason OS refers them as 'questions' because there are several other subjects where theoretical questions are asked, and many of them are more of questions than problems.
Definition 1-a sentence in an interrogative form, addressed to someone in order to get information in reply.
You should check the first definition first :). I already told you that not all questions are problems(and I still stand by that).

Answer 28

P.S. Maths seems to have most problems :P

Answer 29

Perhaps we are now nitpicking.

Answer 30

Yeah, let's get over it. We already have too many problems of our own ;)

Answer 31

Hmm.. my question is not a good one. I think just end it here. It's not easy to draw a conclusion for language

Answer 32

We are being too bored. @Callisto , math questions please!

Answer 33

Silly me!! I forgot to click the 'post' after I had typed my words :S