Preface |
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xiii | |
Acknowledgments |
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xvii | |
Author Biography |
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xix | |
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1 On Encountering a Problem |
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1 | (18) |
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1 | (1) |
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The Right to Propose a Problem |
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2 | (3) |
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The Implicit Faculty Commitment |
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3 | (1) |
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The Responsibility of the Problem Solver |
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4 | (1) |
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The Student's Personal Commitment |
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4 | (1) |
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5 | (1) |
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Patience, Persistence, and Problem-Solving |
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6 | (1) |
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7 | (2) |
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9 | (10) |
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What's Really a Blessing? |
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13 | (6) |
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2 The Logic of the Problem: Good Thinking and Its Rewards |
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19 | (14) |
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Subject-Independent Logic (Subject-Specific Laws) |
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19 | (2) |
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Scientific Laws `Do' Nothing |
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21 | (1) |
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General Logical Ideas in Science |
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22 | (2) |
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The Logic of Limiting Factors |
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22 | (1) |
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23 | (1) |
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24 | (1) |
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25 | (2) |
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27 | (2) |
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Reading a Chemical Formula - Not Only for Chemists |
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29 | (4) |
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3 Solutions in Words: Answering Short Answer Questions |
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33 | (6) |
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33 | (2) |
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35 | (4) |
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39 | (6) |
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5 Solutions in Numbers: Basic Mathematical Procedures |
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45 | (30) |
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Some Mathematical Reminders |
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46 | (10) |
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1 Algebraic Manipulations and Some Useful Math Relations |
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46 | (1) |
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47 | (1) |
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48 | (5) |
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3 Other Interesting Relationships and Definitions |
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53 | (1) |
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Helpful Definitions and Quantities |
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54 | (2) |
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More Emphasis on Logarithms and Powers |
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56 | (1) |
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Linear (Straight-Line) Equations |
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56 | (2) |
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58 | (3) |
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Graphical Representations of Experimental Data |
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61 | (1) |
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62 | (3) |
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Option 1 The Exponential Form: A = A0e'kt |
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63 | (1) |
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Option 2 The Straight Line Form: In(A) = In(A0)-kt |
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63 | (1) |
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64 | (1) |
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65 | (2) |
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67 | (2) |
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Circles, Cylinders, and Spheres |
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67 | (1) |
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Triangles and (Triangular) Prisms |
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68 | (1) |
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68 | (1) |
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69 | (6) |
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A Fun Illustration from Shapes |
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70 | (1) |
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71 | (4) |
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6 Practical Solutions: Science in the Laboratory |
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75 | (12) |
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75 | (4) |
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Approaching Laboratory Activities |
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79 | (8) |
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Insist on High Standards of Logic and Reasoning |
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80 | (1) |
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Be Willing to Think Independently and Take on New Challenges |
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81 | (1) |
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An Appreciation of Errors |
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81 | (2) |
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Another Suggestion to Keep in Mind |
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83 | (1) |
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The Unknown Possibilities |
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83 | (1) |
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84 | (3) |
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87 | (14) |
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88 | (1) |
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89 | (2) |
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91 | (4) |
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95 | (6) |
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8 Persisting against Problems |
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101 | (6) |
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Mindset and Anxiety about Belonging |
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101 | (2) |
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Thoughts on Managing the Demands |
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103 | (2) |
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103 | (1) |
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103 | (1) |
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Sleep - Eat Well - Exercise |
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103 | (1) |
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103 | (1) |
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104 | (1) |
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Remember Why You Are in College |
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104 | (1) |
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Be Gracious and Forgiving |
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105 | (1) |
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105 | (1) |
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105 | (2) |
Appendix I Additional Notes on Matrices and Matrix Algebra |
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107 | (4) |
Appendix II Thinking about Vectors: Basic Notes |
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111 | (12) |
Appendix III Safe Problem-Solving |
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123 | (4) |
Index |
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127 | |