Steps
for Problem Solving
- One of the biggest stumbling blocks
for engineering students is to learn how to solve problems you have never
seen before. This is a critical skill to work on and improve.
The whole point of being an engineer is that you solve and investigate
things people don't understand. What's the point of knowing how to
replicate solutions you have already seen!
- Therefore, your homework and test
problems will be unique question that you probably haven't worked through or
seen similar solutions.
- You have been taught the concepts
needed to solve all the problems we assign.
You just need to see how your knowledge fits in with what they are
trying to solve.
- It is often helpful to go through
formal steps in solving a problem. This way, you have a framework of how to approach and
solve totally new problems.
1.
"So what are we trying to solve for?"- Identify
from the word question what variable is you are trying to solve.
2.
"So what information is given?"- Write down in an
organized list all the information that is given.
You should include the variable and the units.
3.
"So what equations do we know related to this?"-Look
through the textbooks and notes for equations that include what you know or what
you are trying to figure out.
4.
"So now what? How do
we get from what we know to what we want to know?"- Systematically link
the equations. Rewrite the equations in various forms, substituting in for
different variables until you can determine a way to solve for what you need.
5.
"Are there any unknowns still left?"- Look at the
missing links in these equations. Can
any of these variables be solved from what you already know or basic principles
or equations? Can any of these variables be looked up (are they
materials' properties or constants)?
6.
"Now it's time to solve it."- Once you have the
variables and constants and the equations organized, you can go through and
systematically solve the equations as planned in Step 4.
Make sure you are continuously tracking your units.
| 
San
Jose State University