6 practical guidesA practical path through percentages, shared costs, prices, fuel budgets, margins, and break-even arithmetic.
- Start with the reference value
- Keep unit conventions attached
- Separate gross profit from the business decision
8 practical guidesModel loans, mortgages, savings, retirement, debt payoff, budgets, and comparisons with user-entered assumptions.
- Identify every cash flow
- Match the rate to the period
- Inspect totals and schedules
7 practical guidesExact arithmetic, algebra, geometry, scientific functions, and verification habits for bounded calculator workflows.
- Preserve exact structure
- Check the mathematical domain
- Use an independent identity
5 practical guidesDescribe data, define probability models, standardize values, build intervals, and inspect a linear fit without overstating conclusions.
- Inspect data before summarizing
- Select the correct convention
- Report uncertainty honestly
4 practical guidesCivil dates, calendar components, business-day policies, time zones, and instants without hidden locale assumptions.
- Classify the temporal question
- State endpoint and month-end policies
- Keep business calendars honest
4 practical guidesScreening numbers, pace models, strength estimates, and weather indices with population and formula limits visible.
- Check population and formula domain
- Keep measurements and units visible
- Separate calculation from interpretation
4 practical guidesCoherent units, circuit arithmetic, material and gas models, mechanics equations, and explicit idealizations.
- Draw the model boundary
- Use coherent units
- Check ratings and domains
2 practical guidesBase-unit paths, exact factors, affine temperatures, US and imperial distinctions, and decimal versus binary data prefixes.
- Identify the exact units
- Choose the conversion class
- Preserve precision appropriately