Noob Question - Ep Boost Breadboard

[BlackLlama]

If I ment East side of Australia, BlackLlama should have a VERY long arm.. 

To also stay on topic:
<read up a big-muff pi circuit, with your assortment of funny transistors. then go thru and work out what voltages are wrong and causing the circuit to mis-function.>
It's obvious (at least to me..) my city-mate Κωνσταντίνος isn't familiar with "right/wrong" voltages.. 
(in the mean of voltages ought to appear in case of item value/type change..)

I think that's exactly what I don't know Should I go for the math behind it or are there any "general rules" that apply on pedals that I should search for?

(I pretty sure that by now, my questions alone are enough evindence that the topic title Noob was appropriate )

[antonis]

Should I go for the math behind it or are there any "general rules" that apply on pedals that I should search for?

Of course there are such rules but any "general rule" has simplified/verified/establised AFTER math calculation apply..

Things aren't so complicated but, at least, you must use some elementary math implemetations..
(Ohm & Kirchhoff laws need nothing more than sum/subtraction/multiplication/division..)

If you prefer general rules, you can search for something "transistor calculations using rules of thumb"-alike..
(as far as you're sure about your memory strong state..)