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General Approach:
- Define Unknowns.
- List Information given in the question. (Remember Units)
- Determine Concept Involved
- Provide Equation
- Define Variables
- Set Up Equation:
Remember:
- To plug in given information
- To set up equation in order to calculate unknown
- Provide answer in correct format:
Remember:
- Units
- Signifigant figures
- Complete Sentences (if necessary)
Example
Farmer Bill is building a pig pen for his animals. If Bill wants a pen with an area of 300.0ft2 with the length of two of the sides to be 14.5ft each, what length would Farmer Bill want to make the width of teh pen to create a complete enclosure?
Step One: Define Unknowns
X=Width
Step Two: List information in provided in question
Area=300.0ft2
Length=14.5ft
Step Three: Determine concept involved
Area
Step Four: Provide Equation
Area=(Length)(Width) A=L*W
Step Five: Define Variables
A=300.0ft2
L=14.5ft
W=X
Step Six: Plug in information
300.0ft2=(14.5ft)(X)
Step Seven: Calculate Unknown
(300.0ft2)/(14.5ft)=X
20.689ft=X
Remember: NO ROUNDING UNTIL THE END!!!
Step Eight: Provide answer in correct format:
Remember:
Correct Signifigant Figures:
Three Sig Figs
Correct Units
Feet