<p>I have been asked by @Firebug during <a href="https://stats.stackexchange.com/questions/240780/binomial-distribution-and-mean-variance-standard-deviation">https://stats.stackexchange.com/questions/240780/binomial-distribution-and-mean-variance-standard-deviation</a> to contribute to this meta.</p>

<p>What I did most recently is </p>

<p>1) put the <code>self-study</code> tag in. </p>

<p>2) Hint that the newbie (invariably) should validate that </p>

<p>2a) it is <code>self-study</code> </p>

<p>2b) that he should let us know what he attempted to do to solve the problem already, and that</p>

<p>3) We will give hints after a college try to solve the problem.</p>

<p>Lastly,</p>

<p>4) Asked the newbie to read up on the <code>self-study</code> tag information because it is as clear as mud to a newbie even if it is crystal clear for us. </p>

<p>As a result of my effort, the question was put on hold. As off topic by @whuber after the newbie responded truthfully that</p>

<p>"My book has literally 0 information on how to do this problem. I have emailed my professor for assistance on how to start it (more than a week ago) and he, as usual, did not respond unfortunately. The book only covers finding P when given the number, so in this case it would cover something along the lines of find the probability that at least 5 people were American-born."</p>

<p>So, it is obvious what one sentence hint the newbie needs to see. </p>

<p>The clear as mud problem I brought up before with the prediction that this issue would be ongoing <a href="https://stats.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/4378/what-is-the-exact-meaning-of-the-self-study-tag-should-we-consider-renaming-i/4379#4379">What is the exact meaning of the [self-study] tag? Should we consider renaming it?</a> the most common solution accepted for this is to make a <code>textbook-style-problem</code>. There were more votes for the status quo, however, that is also not a solution.</p>
