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58 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I NOVEMBER 2024 ple, a rule of thumb might tell you how wide a trace on a circuit board should be, but it might not consider unique materi- als or changing temperatures. ese rules are not always accurate; sometimes, they can be outdated as new technology comes along. • ey don't always work in every context; what works in one situation might fail in another. Relying too much on rules of thumb can also spread wrong ideas because people may follow them without questioning whether they are still helpful. • Rules of thumb don't always consider sig- nificant trade-offs, like balancing cost and performance. Because of these issues, it's essential to use them carefully and think critically about your actions. e infamous "rule of thumb" are simple guidelines that help you make decisions based on experience, not exact facts. ey're like a shortcuts we use because they work most of the time. For example, if you want to know if spaghetti is done cooking, a common rule of thumb is to grab a spaghetti strand and throw it against the wall to see if it sticks. I used to do that, except that instead of the wall, I used the ceiling, which drove my mother crazy. Helpful Tips About Rules of Thumb Rules of thumb are easy to remember and they save time. ey are helpful, but they aren't always perfect and they come with problems. • ey oen oversimplify things, so they don't work in every situation. For exam- Rules of Thumb: Guidelines vs. Principles for PCB Design Elementary, Mr. Watson Feature Column by John Watson, ALTIUM