GUESS Method

Physics homework for 10/09/14:

“GUESS Method” Blog Post - List the 5 steps of the GUESS Method. On each step explain it in your own words and describe what you used to do for this part when doing a written response question.

Thursday, October 9th, 2014

  GUESS Method and Responding to Questions

        Today in class we discussed the "GUESS" method. GUESS is an acronym here, but we took notes about it and demonstrated as well as explained how to use GUESS. We also reviewed some variables by doing a worksheet involving questions about the variables.

GUESS stands for something since it is an acronym; each letter stands for one word, and the method is used for solving problems as best as we can. It is a way to readjust our strategies. Essentially, it will help in many classes, not just physics. But it is mainly for our physics problems.

Any ways, here is what GUESS stands for and here are the steps with an explanation:

G - Stands for "given." By "given" it means what is given or stated to you that is important in the question. Usually it is numbers or variables. For example, here's a physics problem that might help us understand "G" better:

Lucy was getting ready to go to school. Her school is 1000 meters away from her home. She starts from home towards her school. About 200 meters in realizes that she forgot something and walks back home. Once she gets everything, she goes straight to school. This all happens in the span of 25 minutes (1500 seconds). What was her total distance?

With given you should state the important information in the problem that will help you solve the problem. And make sure you include your units and variables! Those are important as they help you answer a specific question better. Don't screw yourself over by missing a tiny description, you deserve those points after you do all of that work.

In this problem you want to get the numbers, units, and any other important details because that will help you solve this problem. And you don't need to focus on unnecessary information because it won't help you solve the problem, the scenarios just help you get the idea of things. It doesn't matter if Lucy or Billy-Bob or whoever was going to school or something really, it's the information (sorry Billy and Lucy...Still love you!)

So here is what you would take note of for your given: 1000 meters, 200 meters, 25 minutes (1500 seconds), d 

With this kind of a question you want to be careful. While the extraneous details are not entirely important they still describe everything and you might miss something if you ignore everything entirely. I even left out another "200 meters" because even though she walks back home it wasn't stated so I didn't list it, but it's in my head and I will note it down some where else if not here.

U - Stands for "unknown." "Unknown" as in what is the question? What does the question want? In physics it is usually the variable you want to find, but in general it clarifies questions and that is SUPER important in answering questions because if you don't get the question you might not answer it properly and it might confuse you more than you'd want. 

For the unknown, you would write the question down some where and the variable it is asking for if it is physics problem about variables. And write notes about the question if you need to, if it helps then it's all good. The whole point is to better solve questions in an easy way. You would write for this problem "d = ?" or "what is the total distance traveled?"

E - As in "equation." For this step, you would identify the equation you need to utilize to figure out the answer to the problem. Sometimes you need to rearrange your formulas to find what you are looking for. For instance, if you need to figure out delta time and you only have the equation for speed/velocity/etc. you will have to isolate delta t by using algebra, the triangle method, or cross-multiplying. 

(Algebra: s = d/delta t [divide d on both sides to get d/s = delta t]

Triangle method = Write your formula out with your data plugged in and draw a triangle around the formula once you've got three numbers. Section off each and move one number to the top of the number on the other side

Cross multiplying = Set up your data as two fractions, making sure that they are in a relative and not random order. Multiply the first top number by the second bottom number and the second top number by the first bottom number. Finally, divide both sides by the appropriate number to get your answer).

Lucy's problem requires distance which is easy to figure out, you do not even really need an equation here. But you could use one nonetheless. Here I would add all the distances she traveled. But let's identify an equation just for this post:

d = s x t 

Since I didn't give her speed you would have to figure that out so maybe add in the speed equation and variable for your other parts and for this part. Her speed is .93 (repeating three) m/s though.

S - Is for "substitute." Here you would take your important information that you noted and plug it into the equation you wrote down. So put all of your information into the correct places. All of the meters would go in the place of distance or "d", the time would go where "t" is, the speed would take place of the "s." And make sure to include your units, you might not answer correctly without them. Even the units go through some math!

In the problem above, you could just add all of her travel to get your final answer, but let's pretend it is required that we use the equation.

Her speed is .93 (repeating 3) meters/seconds times 1500 seconds. So change "s" to the speed I just wrote with the units and "t" to 1500 seconds and bring down the d. You should get this:

d = .93 (repeating three) m/s x 1500 seconds 

Now... Finally...

S - "Solve"! Yeah, you can guess what this step is about *sarcastic laughing inside of my head*. Basically you do the math here, you go through with your operations and what not, making sure to include all units and info! So just do what the equation asks for and simplify it until you have your answer. Sometimes you might need to add some more steps in on your own to get there. You answer will be in this form: "variable = number + unit" (yay, an equation!)

So d = .93 (repeating three) m/s x 1500 seconds = 1400 meters (I skipped the actual multiplication and did it on a calculator, but you would do the multiplication out if you didn't have a calculator).

And that is what GUESS is! That is what GUESS makes up! It helps us easily maneuver through a problem. You don't always need it, but it can really help either way. And it goes over something we learn in physics, how to properly use equations and stuff. It teaches us about math and science a bit in a way too, it's pretty cool.

But I haven't always used GUESS so what did I do before?

Well, I didn't do things in a completely organized way, but I did apply my skills and what not.

First I read the question multiple times to really hammer the point in (unless it is simple, then I read it twice and once when I'm done). Next I pay attention to my numbers and highlight them somehow. Then I clarify the question. After that I use whatever I've been taught like an equation or something to figure the problem out. Now, I don't always show every detail and skip steps, but it's not always. For example, with the Pythagorean theorem if I know the squares of the numbers I might just instantly write the squares down and not something like "4^2". Finally I just do the math and add the units in. I did something similar to GUESS, but I was not as organized, I did things instantly. GUESS might not apply to everything either - but it does go over most of what you should do when trying to solve a problem! 

Sometimes I might even have to remember a formula or mentally figure out what a formula is when I need it. 

I would also double-check and make sure of everything completely afterwards, but it varies.

But good evening everyone!