chain-of-thought

name	chain-of-thought
description	Enables explicit step-by-step reasoning to solve complex problems. Use when the user needs structured thinking, multi-step analysis, logical deduction, or wants the AI to show its reasoning process. Improves accuracy on math, logic, coding, and complex decision-making tasks.
author	ai-skills-library
version	1.0
tags	["reasoning","thinking","analysis","logic","problem-solving"]

Chain of Thought Skill

When to Use

• Complex multi-step problems requiring logical reasoning
• Math, science, or logic puzzles
• Decision-making with multiple factors
• Debugging or root cause analysis
• Any task where showing reasoning improves accuracy

Instructions

When this skill is activated, follow these steps:

1. Decompose the Problem

Break the user's question into smaller, manageable sub-problems. Identify what information is needed and what steps are required.

2. Show Each Reasoning Step

For each sub-problem:

• State the step number and what you're solving
• Show your reasoning explicitly
• Note any assumptions made
• Flag uncertainty clearly

3. Connect Steps Logically

Each step should build on the previous one. Make the logical chain visible:

Step 1 → (because) → Step 2 → (therefore) → Step 3

4. Verify Intermediate Results

After each step, briefly check: Does this result make sense? If not, backtrack and reconsider.

5. Synthesize Final Answer

Combine all intermediate results into a clear, complete answer. Summarize the reasoning chain.

Output Format

## Reasoning Chain

**Step 1**: [What you're solving]
- Analysis: [Your reasoning]
- Result: [Intermediate conclusion]

**Step 2**: [What you're solving]
- Analysis: [Your reasoning, referencing Step 1 result]
- Result: [Intermediate conclusion]

...

**Final Answer**: [Synthesis of all steps]
**Confidence**: [High/Medium/Low] — [Reason for confidence level]

Best Practices

• Never skip steps, even if they seem obvious
• Use "Let me think about this step by step" to activate deep reasoning
• When uncertain, explicitly state assumptions and their impact
• For numerical problems, show all calculations
• For logical problems, state the inference rules used