13 The other way round

Invert the action(s) used to solve the problem (e.g. instead of cooling an object, heat it).
  • To loosen stuck parts, cool the inner part instead of heating the outer part.
  • Bring the mountain to Mohammed, instead of bringing Mohammed to the mountain.

Make movable parts (or the external environment) fixed, and fixed parts movable.
  • Rotate the part instead of the tool.
  • Moving sidewalk with standing people.
  • Treadmill (for walking or running in place.)

Turn the object (or process) 'upside down'.
  • Turn an assembly upside down to insert fasteners (especially screws).
  • Empty grain from containers (ship or railroad) by inverting them.
TRIZ principe 13


Is this principle frequently used?

This principle is moderately used with 141 instances in the matrix.

This principle is proposed to solve the following contradictions:

Click on a contradiction to explore it

2/6 2/11 2/12 2/23 2/33 3/9 4/12 5/13 5/18 5/26 5/32 5/33 5/34 5/36 7/18 7/21 7/22 7/33 9/1 9/3 9/10 9/18 9/23 9/24 9/32 9/33 10/2 10/9 10/27 10/31 11/2 11/27 12/4 12/18 12/34 12/37 13/3 13/5 13/15 13/19 13/28 14/9 14/13 14/36 15/13 15/27 15/35 17/15 18/7 18/9 18/22 18/23 18/34 18/36 19/7 19/13 19/35 21/6 22/3 22/18 23/9 23/18 23/37 24/39 26/28 26/36 26/39 27/18 27/35 27/36 27/38 28/7 28/9 28/13 28/33 28/34 28/35 29/1 29/22 30/2 30/10 30/18 30/39 32/2 32/3 32/5 32/7 32/9 32/12 32/13 32/33 32/35 33/1 33/2 33/3 33/5 33/9 33/10 33/17 33/18 33/19 33/22 33/28 34/5 34/11 34/12 34/18 34/28 34/36 34/38 35/15 35/19 35/23 35/27 35/32 36/5 36/12 36/14 36/17 36/18 36/22 36/26 36/27 36/32 36/34 37/1 37/2 37/5 37/12 38/3 38/5 38/7 38/11 38/12 38/14 38/19 38/26 38/32 38/34 39/24 39/30


The colour indicates the ranking of the proposed principle to solve the contradiction: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th.
This ranking reflects the frequency of occurrence of the principle in the analysed patents for this type of contradiction.
When a principle appears in first position, it means that it is statistically the most used in the patents studied for this type of problem.

Using TRIZ in your organization?

Discover our structured creativity training to solve your technical challenges with your R&D teams.