Scarl D. How to Solve Problems: For Success in Freshman Physics, Engineering, and Beyond

4th ed. — New York: Dosoris Press, 1994. — 130 p.Teaches problem-solving style by explaining the methods that experienced scientist and engineers use to define a problem, to solve it, and to present their solution to others.Why Solve Problems?
Lifetime learning.
Workmanship.
Previously solved problems.
Reflexes.
Presenting work to others.
Barriers.
Creativity and disorganization.
School.
Science and engineering texts.
Learning equations.
Homework.
Exams.
Efficiency.
Teachers.
Working in a group.
Professional qualities.
Exercise.
Methods.
Example 1: World Trade Center elevator.
Solution for Example.
Divide into parts.
Work down the page.
Write clearly.
Make everything explicit.
Use symbols.
Do one step at a time.
Use ratios.
Example 2: Surface area of a sphere.
Solution for Example.
Do the assigned problem.
Example 3: Oscillating car.
Solution for Example.
Exercises.
Describing the Problem.
Example 4: Ultralight plane takeoff.
Solution for Example.
Define the problem.
Write a heading.Name and date.
Draw a diagram.
Diagram or picture.
Axes.
Scale.
Three-dimensional drawings.
Labels.
Drawing vectors.
Name the variables.
Symbol definitions.
Data equations.
Check.
Preliminary equations.
Units.
Constants.
Trigonometry and vector components.
Exercises.
Finding the Solution.
Science equations.
Choosing the right equation.
General equations.
icular equations.
Algebra.
Small number of known operations.
Get unknowns on left hand side alone.
Copying symbols.
Check die solution.
Reread the problem.
Check algebra.
Check unit.
Make a variational check.
Check test cases.
Check by approximation.
Check the size of the result.
Mistakes.
Exercises.
Presenting the Solution.
Numerical results.
Put in known numbers.
Use significant figures to indicate accuracy.
Include units.
Use engineering prefixes.
Put the result in a sentence.
Decorate your results.
Graphs.Axis labels.
Scale divisions.
Points and lines.
Straight lines.
Logarithmic axes.
Rewriting.
Reports and Publications.
Exercises.
Can’t Solve It.
Use thinking where it counts.
Look for a similar problem.
Simplify.
Generalize.
Put in numbers.
Look for unused data.
Try a ratio.
Put it aside.
Go for a little help.
How to ask for help.
Spreadsheets.
Calculating a single value.
Example 5: Solar rocks.
Solution for Example.
Inputs.
Constants.
Unit conversion.
Calculation.
Results.
Plotting data and calculating functions.
Example 6: Optical detector power.
Solution for Example.
Graphing data.
Graphing a function.
Fitting a function to data.
Numerical differentiation.
Numerical integration.
Other operations.
Organizing a spreadsheet.
Exercises.
Problems.
Further Reading.
Problem Solutions.
Index.