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| 184_notes:assump [2024/09/12 14:55] – [Why you might need to make an assumption] dmcpadden | 184_notes:assump [2024/09/12 15:33] (current) – [Why you might need to make an assumption] dmcpadden | ||
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| === For unknown quantities === | === For unknown quantities === | ||
| - | In complex, real world problems, there are often multiple quantities that you do not know. The same is true of our in class problems. When you multiple variables that you do not know, you have a decision to make as to what values to assume and what you are going to solve for. For example in the very first problem in class (1A: Chasing Thunderclouds), | + | In complex, real world problems, there are often multiple quantities that you do not know. The same is true of our in class problems. When you multiple variables that you do not know, you have a decision to make as to what values to assume and what you are going to solve for. For example in the very first problem in class (1A: Chasing Thunderclouds), |
| + | If we think particularly about the cloud height assumption, there are several ways we could think about picking a value for the cloud height: | ||
| + | * **The realistic scenario** - | ||
| + | * **The average situation** - | ||
| + | * **The worst case scenario** - | ||
| + | |||
| + | All of these methods involve looking up some information online, but the second crucial step is to think critically about the values that you find online and how they might relate to your goal in the problem and the context that your given. | ||
| === To simplify the model === | === To simplify the model === | ||