tion:Always draw a picture, often with one or more FBDs. Make sure you understand the situation described in the problem. Equations – Work forward, not backward. That means look for equations that contain the given information, not equations that contain the desired information. What major CONCEPTS or “blueprint equations” will you use? Write down the general form of the equations that you plan to use. Only after you’ve written down the main equations should you start FILLING things in with the specific information given in the problem. Algebra – Be careful to get the algebra right as you solve the equations for the relevant quantities. Use letters INSTEAD of numbers if at all possible. Even THOUGH you (often) won’t have any numbers at this stage, solving the algebra gives you what I really consider to be the answer to the problem. And write neatly! Numbers – After you have the answer in symbolic form, plug in numbers to obtain numerical results. Use units with the numbers, and make sure the units CANCEL out properly. Be careful with your calculator—punch in all calculations twice to double-check yourself. Think – Does your final answer make sense? Does it have the right units? Is it close to what you were expecting? In not, figure out if/where you went wrong. Example problem: !"#$%&'&()*+,-&.'*+/&'&01$'(&'"-()$'1-&'**,0,('-,"&1.2'(3&4()5&-6,&7))$8"& "1(4'*,&2#-6&'&*)$"-'$-&'**,0,('-#)$&)4&9:;&5<"9:&=-&'&6,#%6-&)4&>?&5/&'&@)0-&*)5,"&0))",:&AB6,&4(,,C 4'00&'**,0,('-#)$&)$&-6,&7))$8"&"1(4'*,"&'@)1-&;:>D&5<"9:E&A'E&F)2&4'"-"&-6,&'"-()$'1-&5)G#$%&'-& -6'-&-#5,H&[email protected]&F)2&0)$%&'4-,(&-6,&@)0-&*)5,"&0))",&2#00-&6#-&-6,&7))$8"&"1(4'*,H&A*E&F)2&6#%6&2#00& -6,&'"-()$'1-&@,&26,$&-6,&@)0-&6#-"H