Super-scientific guesses
provide the basis for a discussion
provide estimates for a project
provide the basis for a discussion
provide estimates for a project
estimate the feasibility of an opportunity
provide the basis for a discussion
provide estimates for a project
estimate the feasibility of an opportunity
determine if an answer that you have obtained makes sense
provide the basis for a discussion
Identify the components of the answer
Divide the problem into small steps
Identify the components of the answer
Identify all the information you have
Divide the problem into small steps
Identify the components of the answer
Identify all the information you have
Determine what you have enough information for to factor into your problem
Divide the problem into small steps
Identify the components of the answer
Identify all the information you have
Determine what you have enough information for to factor into your problem
Divide the problem into small steps
Make an order-of-magnitude guess for what you don't have
Identify the components of the answer
Identify all the information you have
Determine what you have enough information for to factor into your problem
Divide the problem into small steps
Solve each step
Make an order-of-magnitude guess for what you don't have
Identify the components of the answer
Identify all the information you have
Determine what you have enough information for to factor into your problem
Divide the problem into small steps
Solve each step
Combine each step into an answer
Make an order-of-magnitude guess for what you don't have
Identify the components of the answer
Rounding makes things easier to calculate- we only really care about orders of magnitude
Rounding makes things easier to calculate- we only really care about orders of magnitude
Item Exact Value Suggested Value (for faster calculation)
1 day 24 hours 25 hours
1 mile 5280 feet 5000 feet
1 yard 0.9144 meter 1 meter
1 foot 30.48 cm 30 cm
1 pound 453.6 g 500 g
1 hour 3600 seconds 4000 seconds
How many kilometers are there in a light-year?
How many kilometers are there in a light-year?
How long is a light-year?
How many kilometers are there in a light-year?
How long is a light-year?
c = 186,000 miles / second
For the average American, how many times will their heart beat during their lifetime?
For the average American, how many times will their heart beat during their lifetime?
What do we know?
What do we have to guess?
How many heartbeats are there in a year for the entire world's population?
How many heartbeats are there in a year for the entire world's population?
What smaller problems is this composed of?
How many heartbeats are there in a year for the entire world's population?
What smaller problems is this composed of?
How fast does one person's heart beat?
How many heartbeats are there in a year for the entire world's population?
What smaller problems is this composed of?
How fast does one person's heart beat?
How many heartbeats per year?
How many heartbeats are there in a year for the entire world's population?
What smaller problems is this composed of?
How fast does one person's heart beat?
How many people are there?
How many heartbeats per year?
How many heartbeats are there in a year for the entire world's population?
Earth's population * Heartbeats per year
How many heartbeats are there in a year for the entire world's population?
Earth's population * Heartbeats per year
2,400,000,000 heartbeats per year in the US
How many pounds of rice were consumed in the U.S. in the year 2015?
How many pounds of rice were consumed in the U.S. in the year 2015?
How many people in the US?
How many pounds of rice were consumed in the U.S. in the year 2015?
How many people in the US?
How much rice does a person eat?
How many pounds of rice were consumed in the U.S. in the year 2015?
How many people in the US?
How much rice does a person eat?
5,200,000,000 lbs (Source: USDA)