Iteration

[ktulu]

I was working some depth problems this morning out of the structural 6-minute solutions, and the solution states that the answer needs to be determined through iteration. Now, how in the HELL will we have time to solve by iteration on the exam? <_<

Now that I have worked a good bit of the depth problems in the 6-minute solutions, I agree with a lot of you in that they are way to deep to appear on the exam....

ktulu

 

[Jax6S]

Yes, most of the problems in the exam are rather straightforward calculation. The trick is to know how to solve the problem when you see it because you're working against time.

 

[udpolo15]

For iteration problems, plug the each answer choice into the equation to get the answer.

 

[Guest]

ktulu,

I agree with updolo - instead of going through the steps of iteration, you plug each answer in to see which one 'solves' the problem.

I would only add that if you can eliminate choice(s) through some logic or rationale, then that will decrese the time it takes you to solve the problem.

JR

 

[ktulu]

I understand you are trying to say, and I agree with that process. What I'm saying is that iteration situations take too long, even when you eliminate possible answers, even when the iteration takes place in the middle of the solution. Three previous tries, I have not seen a iteration problem...

I was just trying to understand the concept of performing a iteration type problem in six minutes....that's all

ktulu

 

[Guest]

I was just trying to understand the concept of performing a iteration type problem in six minutes....that's allktulu

Ooohhh .. I see what you are getting at now.

This is a case of trying to apply logic where logic does not apply my friend <_<

On a more serious note, the Six-Minute Solns series is an excellent way to get the feel of exam-like problems. That series tries to provide that feel through a variety of problem types. However, I don't think you cannot allow yourself to get hooked into the sense that the exam WILL be like those problems.

Keep plugging at it ktulu ... you will get there.

Oh .. and I forgot .. I have a 2nd crossed fingers smiley for you .

JR

 

[ktulu]

Thanks, I'll keep that one in my back pocket....

ktulu

 

[Dleg]

I don't know about structural problems, but for the water resources type problems that required iteration, I just became very familiar with my calculator's "solver" function and used that. However, I think just plugging the answers in until you find the one that "works" is a faster and more elegant solution (in a test-taking kind of way). I was able to hang up my calculator's solver for more than a minute on a few sample problems, and one or two of them just blew it's little mind, and never returned a solution at all...

 

[Road Guy]

I dont know if it was coincidence or not but there were 2 problems that were almost exact copy of some 6 minute solutions problems this last go round, I recognized them and even pulled it out and for the most part copied the problem step by step.

the only difference was where in the 6 minute solution book they had one extra step that wasnt required on the exam.

 

[RIP - VTEnviro]

Some of the practice questions I saw involved iteration asked for your answer after performing one iteration, as opposing to repeating until you converge, like you really would to solve it.

 

[udpolo15]

I would only add that if you can eliminate choice(s) through some logic or rationale, then that will decrease the time it takes you to solve the problem.
JR

I would add that on some iteration problems on the environmental practice exams i notice if I picked the answer that fell within published expect values, only one answer fell with the range (and the rest were an order of magnitude away).

if you think the iteration will take too long, pick a logical answer w/o iteration and come back to it.

based on my experience, knowing good test taking tips will give you an easy 10-20 points. i know on the exam there were a half dozen or so questions that I just answered without doing any calculations.

 

[RIP - VTEnviro]

^ Yeah, and you can generally toss out a couple choices as being totally bogus, giving you that much better of a chance.

 

[ktulu]

^ Yeah, and you can generally toss out a couple choices as being totally bogus, giving you that much better of a chance.

I took this action with some transportation 6 minute problems while studying this week, and at least one answer for the majority of the problems could automatically be eliminated...