You can navigate through this E-Book using the menu to the left. For E-Books that have a Chapter/Section organization each option in the menu to the left indicates a chapter and will open a menu showing the sections in that chapter. Alternatively, you can navigate to the next/previous section or chapter by clicking the links in the boxes at the very top and bottom of the material.
Also, depending upon the E-Book, it will be possible to download the complete E-Book, the chapter containing the current section and/or the current section. You can do this be clicking on the E-Book, Chapter, and/or the Section link provided below.
For those pages with mathematics on them you can, in most cases, enlarge the mathematics portion by clicking on the equation. Click the enlarged version to hide it.
Problem
Solving
In the previous
section there were some general tips in regards to homework sets as a
whole. Here are some tips to help you
actually work the problems. Note that
some of the ideas were important enough that they are actually in both sections.
- Read the Problem. Read the problem to get an idea of what
you’re being asked to do. This one
of the biggest sources of point loss that I’ve seen in grading. Too many students just skim the problem
and assume they know what’s going on and what they are being asked to do.
- Read the Problem Again. Now that you know what you’re being
asked to do, read the problem again.
This time around make note of what you are given and what you need
to find. Also make sure that you
understand just what you’re being asked to do.
- Clearly Note What You Are Asked to
Find. Clearly write down
somewhere what you’re being asked to find.
- Clearly Note What You Know. Clearly write down somewhere all the
information you’ve been given.
- Draw a Diagram. If appropriate draw a diagram and label
what you know and what you need to find.
Often diagrams will suggest the solution technique, so it’s a good
idea to get into the habit of drawing them.
- Devise a Plan. Try to figure out what you’re going to
need to work the problem. Identify
formulas that may help you. See if
there are any intermediate steps/answers that will be needed in order to
arrive at the final answer.
- Work a Similar Problem. If you can’t figure out how to work the
problem find a similar problem that is simpler. Work this then go back and compare what
you did in the simpler problem to the problem you’re asked to do.
- Work the Plan. Once you’ve got the plan, work it out to
get the answer.
- Check Your Solution. Is the answer in proper form? Does your answer make sense? If possible, plug your answer back into
the original problem as a check.
- Go Back Over the Problem. Once you’re satisfied that you’ve got
the correct answer go back over the problem. Identify concepts/methods/formulas that
were used for the problem. Try to
understand why these concepts/methods/formulas were used on this problem.
Look for identifying characteristics that will help you identify this kind
of problem in the future.
Here is a great problem solving flow chart by Eric Austin (a Mechanical Engineer from Clemson University). This flow chart really encompasses all the ideas here in a nice easy to remember process!