A Strategy for Solving Problems
- Identify the key parameters that affect the problem in the regime of
interest.
- Develop a first-order model.
- Apply the first-order model, estimating key parameters.
- Identify second-order effects.
- Estimate significance of second-order effects, and make necessary
corrections.
- Check the final results against reality for validity.
- Derive as many independent ways as possible to model the situation, to
check [1] the robustness of your model, and [2] your math.