The next set of blogs will be focusing on Data sufficiency(DS). Many students feel that they make more errors in DS than problem solving. Let us understand this question type in depth.
Sample question:
What is the value of a?
(1) 3a + 2b = 15
(2) b = (-3/2) (a – 5)
(1) 3a + 2b = 15
(2) b = (-3/2) (a – 5)
The Directions:
Each data sufficiency problem consists of a question and two
statements, labeled (1) and (2), that give data. You have to decide whether the
data given in the statements are sufficient for answering the question.
Use the data given in the questions plus your knowledge of
mathematics and everyday fact, you must indicate whether the data given in the
statements are sufficient for answering the questions and then indicate one of
the following answer choices:
(A) Statement (i) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (2)
alone is not sufficient to answer the question asked;
(B) Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (1)
alone is not sufficient to answer the question asked;
(C) BOTH statements
(1) and (2) TOGETHER are sufficient to answer the question asked, but NEITHER
statement ALONE is sufficient;
(D) EACH statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the
question asked;
(E) Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient to
answer the question asked, and additional data are needed.
NOTE: In data sufficiency problems that ask for the value of
a quantity, the data given in the statements
are sufficient only when it is possible to determine exactly one numerical
value for the quantity.
Numbers: All numbers used are real numbers.
Figures: A figure accompanying a data sufficiency problem
will conform to the information given in the question but will not necessarily
conform to the additional information given in statements (1) and (2).
Lines shown as straight can be assumed to be straight and
lines that appear jagged can also be assumed to be straight. You may assume
that the positions of points, angles, regions, and so forth exist in the order
shown and that angle measures are greater than zero degrees. All figures lie in
a plane unless otherwise indicated.
These questions require knowledge of the following topics: •
Arithmetic • Elementary algebra • Commonly known concepts of geometry
DS problem – Approach flow chart
Next post: Strategies to tackle data sufficiency questions
