I've heard the word "heuristics" more recently, but I think I learned (and later forgot) both terms when I was a kid. One interesting thing about heuristics is

I've heard the word "heuristics" more recently, but I think I learned (and later forgot) both terms when I was a kid. One interesting thing about heuristics is that it's important to learn when they _don't_ apply. If a heuristic is true 80% of the time, it's also untrue 20% of the time. And the obverse to that thought is that you shouldn't let that 20% fail rate discourage you from using the heuristic the other 80% of times.