What is the term for a system that helps people make decisions by utilizing a database of facts and rules?

The term that describes a system designed to assist people in making decisions by leveraging a database of facts and rules is an expert system. Expert systems are designed to mimic the decision-making ability of a human expert in a specific domain. They utilize a knowledge base, which contains both factual information and heuristic rules that guide the decision-making process.

Expert systems work by applying logical reasoning to the set of rules and information they possess to arrive at conclusions or recommendations. This approach provides users with solutions based on structured knowledge, enhancing the decision-making process, especially in complex issues where human expertise is required.

The other options, while related to data processing and analysis, serve different purposes. Decision trees are graphical representations used for decision-making, but they do not function as standalone systems with a knowledge base. Neural networks are a form of machine learning that imitates the way human brains operate to recognize patterns, rather than providing rule-based decisions. A data warehouse, on the other hand, is a centralized repository for storing large amounts of data but is not directly involved in decision-making. These distinctions highlight why the concept of an expert system is directly aligned with the goal of decision-support using established facts and rules.