INTRODUCTION vii HOW TO STUDY There are two separate aspects to this course: 1.Understanding principles 2.Solving problems Although these two aspects are completely different,instructors will typically gauge your understanding of the principles by testing your ability to solve prob ems.So you must master both aspects of the course.The principles are in your textbook and in your lecture notes,but you must discover how to solve problems.Most students have a difficult time with this task.In this book,we explore some step-by-step processes for analyzing problems.There is a very simple habit that you must form If you go to a doctor with a pain in your stomach,you will get a series of ques tions:How long have you had the pain?Where is the pain?Does it come and go,or is it constant?What was the last thing you ate?and so on.The doctor is doing two very important and very different things.First,he has learned the right questions to ask.Next,he applies the knowledge he has together with the information he has gleaned to arrive at the proper diagnosis.Notice that the first step is asking the right questions Let's imagine that you want to sue MeDonald's because you spilled hot coffee in your lap.You go to an attorney and she asks you a series of questions that enable her to apply her knowledge to your case.Once again,the first step is asking questions. In fact,in any profession or trade,the first step of diagnosing a problem is al- ways to ask questions. Let's say you are trying to decide if your vant to be a doctor.There are some tough,penetrating questions that you should be asking your self.It all boils down to learning how to ask the right questions. The same is true with solving problems in this course.Unfortunately,you are expected to leamn how to do this on your own.In this book,we will look at some pes of problems and we wil se what auesion you should be asking ances.More importantly,we will als o be deve oping skills that will allow you to figure out what questions you should be asking for a problem that you have never seen before. Many students freak out on exams when they see a problem that they can't do If you could hear what was going on in their minds,it would sound something like this"I can't do itI'm gonna flunk."These thoughts are counterproductive and a waste of precious t e.Reme r that when all lse fails,the s al that you can ask yourself:"What questions should I be asking The only way to truly master problem-solving is to practice problems every day,consistently.You will never learn how to solve problems by just reading a book. You must try,and fail,and try again.You must learn from your mistakes.You must get frustrated when you can't so ove aproblem.That's the ng proc The worst t ing you can do is to read through the solu tons ma ual and think that you now know how to solve problems.It doesn't work that way.If you want an HOW TO STUDY There are two separate aspects to this course: 1. Understanding principles 2. Solving problems Although these two aspects are completely different, instructors will typically gauge your understanding of the principles by testing your ability to solve problems. So you must master both aspects of the course. The principles are in your textbook and in your lecture notes, but you must discover how to solve problems. Most students have a difficult time with this task. In this book, we explore some step-by-step processes for analyzing problems. There is a very simple habit that you must form immediately: learn to ask the right questions. If you go to a doctor with a pain in your stomach, you will get a series of ques￾tions: How long have you had the pain? Where is the pain? Does it come and go, or is it constant? What was the last thing you ate? and so on. The doctor is doing two very important and very different things. First, he has learned the right questions to ask. Next, he applies the knowledge he has together with the information he has gleaned to arrive at the proper diagnosis. Notice that the first step is asking the right questions. Let’s imagine that you want to sue McDonald’s because you spilled hot coffee in your lap. You go to an attorney and she asks you a series of questions that enable her to apply her knowledge to your case. Once again, the first step is asking questions. In fact, in any profession or trade, the first step of diagnosing a problem is al￾ways to ask questions. Let’s say you are trying to decide if you really want to be a doctor. There are some tough, penetrating questions that you should be asking your￾self. It all boils down to learning how to ask the right questions. The same is true with solving problems in this course. Unfortunately, you are expected to learn how to do this on your own. In this book, we will look at some common types of problems and we will see what questions you should be asking in those circumstances. More importantly, we will also be developing skills that will allow you to figure out what questions you should be asking for a problem that you have never seen before. Many students freak out on exams when they see a problem that they can’t do. If you could hear what was going on in their minds, it would sound something like this: “I can’t do it . . . I’m gonna flunk.” These thoughts are counterproductive and a waste of precious time. Remember that when all else fails, there is always one ques￾tion that you can ask yourself: “What questions should I be asking right now?” The only way to truly master problem-solving is to practice problems every day, consistently. You will never learn how to solve problems by just reading a book. You must try, and fail, and try again. You must learn from your mistakes. You must get frustrated when you can’t solve a problem. That’s the learning process. The worst thing you can do is to read through the solutions manual and think that you now know how to solve problems. It doesn’t work that way. If you want an INTRODUCTION vii 6753_Klein_00.qxd 5/1/07 5:02 PM Page vii