How do you Learn/Problem-Solve?

I am in dire need of money (approximately $30,000/year to be exact). I also have a need to be my own boss (so I can have a high degree of freedom as well). This has been a big problem for me - something I have been thinking about this for years. The issue is, I don't care how I solve this problem; if an equation would simply materialize on my bathroom mirror that instructs me how to make $30,000, I would take it! However, for me, learning something is the exact opposite; it is not simply enough to take an equation and plug values in it - I must understand every paramater of the eqauation in order to use it. Therefore, when learning something, only partially understanding something is simply not adequate (while, clearly, solving a problem is the exact opposite). I know exactly how I developed these traits; when I was studying computer science in university, if we learned something, it is absolutely important that we understand every facet of the concept; rarely were we ever just simply given an equation that we were instructed to plug values into - "if you are going to learn, you must learn from first principles!" Nonetheless, problem solving couldn't be any more different; fairly often, while were weren't instructed to learn an equation by rote, in an assignment we were often simply given an equation that we didn't fully understand and we had to write a program to solve it! And just like the scenario from my financial life, if a solution would simply show up on a blackboard in a lecture hall, we would graciously accept it...

Therefore, I'm wondering: how would you define these traits intellectually? That is, what is the correct categorization of these contrasting learning and problem-solving styles? I know exactly where they come from in my life history, but I don't know how to categorize them. Therefore, if someone has the answer to these questions, I would be grateful. Also, how does this interact with socionics types? I am interested in this correlation as well...

Jason