Tips for Problem-Solving
A list to keep handy when attempting "word problems" or any non-routine problem

• Rule #1: "Don't panic!" Likewise:
• It's unrealistic to expect that you will usually "see" the answer very quickly. Give yourself more than just a couple of minutes to solve it.

• Read & re-read until you fully understand the question.

• Allow yourself plenty of scratch paper
• What are the known facts? List all known info.

  ---

• Don't look for memorized/book solutions; instead, explore.

• Don't try to solve it in one single step; "slow & steady
  wins the race". Write down (& think about) each step.

  Draw pictures, diagrams, schematics, graphs,..

  Can you simulate, act-out, or make physical models?

  Look for relationships, structures, and patterns

  Does this problem have two (or more) possible "cases" ?

  (E.g. odd case and even case; or e.g. less than 1 and greater than 1)

  ---

  Ask yourself, "have I solved somewhat similar problems?" How?

  Can the problem be solved "backwards" -- from end to start?

  What do you know about the solution?

  E.g. "I don't know the answer but it's an odd number less than 100"

  If still stuck: "Have I solved a similar, easier/simpler problem?"

  (Try to solve the "easier-but-similar" problem first, then go back to the original problem)