B.5.TU:2 - Problem

A theory’s descriptions usually distribute its usefulness across definitions, examples, constructions and arguments. A reader may know each familiar word yet be unable to assemble these contributions for a new question. Conversely, a familiar calculation can conceal a change of question: the calculation solves the stated equations, while the receiving work needs a condition those equations omitted.

The difficulty has two connected parts. First, discover what the account makes possible and how to obtain that result. Then apply it to the question that justified the work. An answer can also reveal a new question or a useful limitation of the theory.