pahwa wrote:Hello,
These are very basic mistake that we all tend to make at times. Please be very carefull in your DS questions and keep following things in mind:

1. Until and Unless mentioned, if you are using "plug-in values" method, please make sure that you have tested the condition not only on integers but also on decimals

2. Always make sure that you test the values on boundary, that is -1, 0 and 1.

3. The most silly mistake that we make is we tend to use only positive values for testing the condition. Please use negative values also unless clearly stated that the given x or y is postive.

pahwa wrote:Hello,
These are very basic mistake that we all tend to make at times. Please be very carefull in your DS questions and keep following things in mind:

1. Until and Unless mentioned, if you are using "plug-in values" method, please make sure that you have tested the condition not only on integers but also on decimals

2. Always make sure that you test the values on boundary, that is -1, 0 and 1.

3. The most silly mistake that we make is we tend to use only positive values for testing the condition. Please use negative values also unless clearly stated that the given x or y is postive.

gmatmachoman wrote:

pahwa wrote:Hello,
These are very basic mistake that we all tend to make at times. Please be very carefull in your DS questions and keep following things in mind:

1. Until and Unless mentioned, if you are using "plug-in values" method, please make sure that you have tested the condition not only on integers but also on decimals

2. Always make sure that you test the values on boundary, that is -1, 0 and 1.

3. The most silly mistake that we make is we tend to use only positive values for testing the condition. Please use negative values also unless clearly stated that the given x or y is postive.

***Adding on to that Plz dont carry forward the Info given in st1 to st2 while testing sufficiency for St 2.

*** I have seen people using the question stem that has to proved "for granted "and start proceeding with the conditionality stated to be true as if they were really true. Plz avoid that!!

***While taking square root, always think it can have both +/- values.

Probably i shall create a "New thread" where we can add "Avoidable PITFALLS in DS"