Ideas in this flowchart

• Approximating difficult-to-measure natural objects with simple geometric shapes
• Direct measurement is difficult for some natural objects
• A simple geometric shape can be used as an approximation
• Possible shapes include a cylinder, sphere, rectangle, or polygon
• The approximation can provide a ballpark estimate
• The approximation can serve as a starting point for more detailed analysis
• The adequacy of the estimate depends on the problem's purpose
• The consequences of error also affect whether the estimate is adequate