Rephrase and Respond

STANDARD APPROACH: Q: "How do I make my code faster?" A: "Use better algorithms, optimize loops..." Problem: Vague question → vague answer --- REPHRASE AND RESPOND: Q: "How do I make my code faster?" REPHRASE: "You're asking how to improve the execution speed/performance of your code. This could involve algorithmic optimization, reducing time complexity, using more efficient data structures, or system-level optimizations like caching or parallelization." Now I can answer more specifically: A: "To make code faster, you should: 1. Profile first to find bottlenecks 2. Check algorithmic complexity (O(n²) → O(n log n)) 3. Use appropriate data structures (dict vs list) 4. Consider caching repeated computations 5. Parallelize independent operations What type of code are you optimizing? That would help me give more specific advice." --- BENEFITS OF REPHRASING: Original Q: "Make code faster" Rephrased reveals: ├─ Performance = execution speed ├─ Multiple approaches exist ├─ Context matters (what kind of code?) └─ Need to ask clarifying question

REPHRASE AND RESPOND TEMPLATES: TEMPLATE 1 - Basic: """ Question: {question} First, rephrase this question in your own words to ensure you understand it correctly. Rephrased question: [your rephrasing] Now answer the rephrased question: """ TEMPLATE 2 - With expansion: """ {question} Before answering: 1. Rephrase the question in your own words 2. Identify any implicit requirements 3. Note any ambiguities that need clarification Then provide your answer. """ TEMPLATE 3 - One-shot with example: """ Example: Q: "Why won't my car start?" Rephrase: "You're asking about troubleshooting a car that fails to start. This could be electrical (battery, starter) or fuel-related issues." Answer: [detailed troubleshooting steps] Now answer this question: Q: {question} Rephrase: Answer: """ --- WHAT REPHRASING REVEALS: Original: "Is this design good?" Rephrase: "You want me to evaluate this design's quality. 'Good' could mean: visually appealing, user-friendly, performant, maintainable, or accessible. Which aspects matter most to you?" Original: "Fix the bug" Rephrase: "You want me to identify and resolve the issue causing incorrect behavior. I should first understand what the expected vs actual behavior is." PERFORMANCE: ┌─────────────────────┬──────────┬─────────────┐ │ Task │ Standard │ + RaR │ ├─────────────────────┼──────────┼─────────────┤ │ Reading comprehension│ 72% │ 79% (+7%) │ │ Math word problems │ 68% │ 75% (+7%) │ │ Ambiguous questions │ 54% │ 71% (+17%) │ └─────────────────────┴──────────┴─────────────┘ Biggest gains on ambiguous/complex questions!