# a 'Textbook Problem' solving as a science. [closed]

I think most of us had the experience of not knowing how to solve problems in a course in university and then somehow we find, or someone teaches us, some rules to make problems in some subgroups and how to tackle the problems in each subgroup. and then the course becomes so easy and obvious. and you pass it without to much effort with great marks.

lets take an example. Rudin's analysis. i solved many of it's problems, but in the end i didn't know such rules and it still makes no sense for me and i still find it a scary book.

Are you aware of any such rules, that make Rudin's mathematical analysis a simple book?

PS: I am looking for specific things like "when you want to prove $x = 0$, show that it is smaller than every $\epsilon$. " but 'more' specific. for example when this approach is probably going to work. and when not. i am not claiming that these exist. i know there are such things for 'physics Holiday' that make it very simple. it might not be possible for Rudin.

Also note that when i say Rudin or Holiday i actually mean mathematical analysis or physics in that level. not the books.

there might always be some problems that we can not put into a category. i am looking for things that MOST OF THE TIME work.

for example check out: terrytao.wordpress.com/2010/10/21/245a-problem-solving-strategies/

i want something like this but with more details so that it becomes more fool-proof.

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## closed as not constructive by vadim123, O.L., user1729, vonbrand, Dennis GulkoMay 27 '13 at 15:28

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I have no idea what rules you are talking about... –  user1729 May 27 '13 at 15:06
I am still confused. Are you saying "If someone tells me how to solve the problem it is easy!"? And I am therefore presuming that you are claiming that Rudin's text book stands as a bastion of the "The point of understanding mathematics is to become better able to solve problems" camp (from Gower's article)?! –  user1729 May 27 '13 at 16:09
Okay, but then I re-ask the second sentence of my previous comment: Are you saying "If someone tells me how to solve the problem it is easy!"? –  user1729 May 27 '13 at 16:36