Create an example of your problem. Solve for specifics before variables. Then generalize it and replace those specifics with variables. Skipping the first step

Create an example of your problem. Solve for specifics before variables. Then generalize it and replace those specifics with variables. Skipping the first step can be confusing because many people struggle to conceptualize abstract data. Studying algorithms and their use cases can be helpful as well: http://blog.notdot.net/tag/damn-cool-algorithms http://blog.notdot.net/tag/damn-cool-algorithms When you have to search something to solve it. Make sure you aren't searching for the answer to solve the answer but are searching the answer to understand the answer. Take some time to study the solution to your problem and make sure you understand what it is doing and how it works so that next time a similar problem arises you might be able to solve it because the solution worked for you in the past.